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Morning 9: Erik van Rooyen eagles last for win | Inami victorious in Japan | 56 of 56 fairways

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Monday morning, golf fans, as Erik van Rooyen delivered a masterclass down the stretch to win the WWT Championship.

1. Erik van Rooyen eagles last for victory

AP report…” Erik van Rooyen made a 16-foot eagle putt on the par-5 closing hole Sunday to win the World Wide Technology Championship, a day after Matt Kuchar squandered a six-stroke lead with a late meltdown.”

  • “Playing alongside Kuchar at Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante on the tip of Baja California, van Rooyen played the back nine in 8-under 28 in a 9-under 63. He finished at 27-under 261, two strokes ahead of Kuchar and Camilo Villegas.”
Full piece.

2. Van Rooyen pays tribute to terminally ill friend

Michael Weston for Golf Monthly…”Erik van Rooyen may have just got his career back on track after winning the World Wide Technology Championship, a victory that gives him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, but there was only thing on his mind on Sunday evening – getting home to see his best friend, Jon Trasamar, who has terminal cancer.”

  • “Quite numb,” responded van Rooyen, when asked to reflect on what was an incredible victory. “You imagine yourself full of euphoria and just being ecstatic and I was just numb. I think it’s because of everything the past six days with my friend Jon being so sick. I guess just the moment just hasn’t hit me yet.”
  • “Trasamar had beaten cancer, but van Rooyen learned on Tuesday that his friend was sick again, and that the illness had spread throughout his body.”
  • “After securing his second PGA Tour title, he revealed that Trasamar, who was best man at his wedding just nine years ago, only has six to 10 weeks left to live.”
Full piece.

3 LPGA: Inami wins in Japan

AP report…”Mone Inami of Japan shot a 3-under 69 on Sunday to win the LPGA’s Japan Classic by one shot over Seon Woo Bae of South Korea and Shiho Kuwaki of Japan. It was the first win on the LPGA Tour for the 24-year-old.”

  • “Inami finished at 22-under 266 for the four rounds. Bae closed with a 67 and Kuwaki, who shared the lead after three rounds, slipped to a 71 at the Taiheiyo Club in north central Japan.”
Full piece.

4. Sarit Suwannarut takes China Open

Reuters report…”Sarit Suwannarut won the Volvo China Open by 6 strokes Sunday as the Thai player blitzed the course with 10 birdies to overcome a 3-shot overnight deficit and take the title ahead of Taichi Kho and Chen Guxin.”

  • “Sarit completed his final round at Shenzhen’s Hidden Grace Golf Club in an 8-under 64 to overtake third-round leader Chen, who endured a difficult day with a 1-over 73 but still finished in a tie for second with Kho.”
Full piece.

5. An important double

DP World Tour report…”Marco Penge concluded an outstanding week by becoming the second Englishman in as many years to win the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A and the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings double.”

  • “The 25-year-old posted a closing three under par round of 69 to move to ten under par for the week and secure an emphatic six stroke victory over Frenchman Tom Vaillant, who finished in solo second at Club de Golf Alcanada to also break into the Road to Mallorca top 21 and clinch promotion to the DP World Tour.”
  • “Penge follows in the footsteps of countryman Nathan Kimsey who triumphed at the season finale 12 months ago to win the Rankings, and he becomes the 13th Challenge Tour Number One to hail from England.”
Full piece.

6.  Harrington takes Timbertech

Reuters report…”Padraig Harrington used a torrid start to his final round to run away with the TimberTech Championship title on Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida.”

  • “Harrington birdied six of his first seven holes en route to a final-round, 7-under 64. At 16-under 197 for the weekend, Harrington posted a whopping seven-shot victory at the Old Course at Broken Sound.”
Full piece.

7. Report: PGA Tour players can participate in LIV Golf qualifying event

Golfweek’s Cameron Jourdan…”The stranglehold over the future of professional golf seems to have loosened, even if only a bit.”

  • “PGA Tour members will be allowed to participate in LIV Golf’s promotional event next month without being suspended, per a Golf Channel report. The qualifier is set for Dec. 8-10 in the United Arab Emirates.”
  • “Based on the information publicly available regarding the LIV Golf Promotion event; it is determined to be a qualifying event only and not a part of an unauthorized series. Therefore, the LIV Golf Promotion event is not categorized as an ‘Unauthorized Tournament,’” a Tour spokesman said in a statement. “This classification is subject to change should the details of the event change.”
Full Piece.

8. 56 of 56 fairways

Golfweek’s Adam Woodard…”Wide fairways were a talking point all week as the PGA Tour hosted its first event at a Tiger Woods-designed golf course.”

  • “But just how wide are the fairways at El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos, Mexico? Adam Long hit 56-of-56 fairways over the four rounds of the 2023 World Wide Technology Championship to become the first player with 100 percent driving accuracy in a Tour event since Brian Claar at the 1992 Memorial Tournament. Long finished T-23 at 17 under, 10 shots behind the winner Erik van Rooyen.”
Full Piece.

9. Erik van Rooyen’s winning WITB

Driver: Callaway Paradym (9 degrees)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana DF 60 TX

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (17 degrees)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Irons: Callaway X Forged UT, Callaway Apex TCB (4), Callaway Apex MB (5-PW)

Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 95 X (UT), KBS Tour-V 120 X (5-PW)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 58-08C)

Shafts: KBS Tour-V 120 X

Putter: Odyssey Toulon Design San Diego

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X

Full WITB.

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

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Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, one user is wondering how many birdies other players have had in a round while still failing to break par. @Lalan45, unfortunately, asked the question after a unique experience of their own.

They wrote:

“Today I managed 8 birdies but still shot even par, could have been a round to remember! What’s the most birdies you’ve made in a round and still didn’t break par?”

Our members in the forum shared their own experiences with successful rounds that still resulted in a score over par. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • kwcsports: “I’ve had 5 a few times, still shot 80+ haha.”
  • jda: “I played a course for the first time, had 8 birdies, 9 doubles and an eagle. The infamous no-par round. I kept the scorecard. Every shot had a creek that I did not know about, or I was within 8-10 feet for a birdie look. To this day, I have no idea if I should be really jacked up or mad about that performance.”
  • jvincent: “I think my record is either 5 or 6. Probably shot 75.”
  • Instron4204: “3 birdies and shot a 92…man I suck!”

Entire Thread: “Most Birdies Without Breaking Par.”

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Best current stock shaft 2026 – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, one user is asking for thoughts on the best stock shafts offered in 2026. Stock shafts are the shafts included with a club when it’s purchased from retailers or OEMs.

@DTorres asked:

The last couple years has seen a lot of updates and additions to no upcharge stock shafts, which do you think is the best offering in 2026?

Im a bit of a shaft nerd and recently during my Members Testing with the Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond I found the updated Project X Denali Frost Black to be a fantastic stock shaft. I absolutely did not mesh well with the original Denali. Just curious what other people think are the current best Stock shaft offerings out with new models and stock Ventus options and LinQ options popping up here and there.

We were given the option for any stock shafts for our members review. I went with the 70g Black Frost 6.5 because it’s a shaft I don’t have, it’s an updated version of the original Denali and hear little about. I typically use a Diamana WB, GD VF or a HOF Raptor. I’m not saying it was neck and neck with any of those but it was a pleasant surprise I’m not accustomed to in stock shaft offerings.

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own thoughts on the best stock shafts available in 2026. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • rsballer10: “IMO – MCA Ka’ili White Darkwave, Tensei 1k Black/white, UST Lin-Q White. People are free to spend their money however they see fit, but for me personally the shaft catalogs these days have enough options that I don’t see the value of a $400 upcharge. I have never had a problem finding a no upcharge shaft that fits the bend profile and weight that I need. Whether the paint job is good enough or not is above my pay scale.”
  • bcflyguy1: “Project X Titan Black. I’ve had one in 60TX in my Quantum TD Max for several weeks now. Have to give Titlieist their flowers for finding a way to make it available as a featured option; very shrewd bit of business and one that I suspect will be duplicated by the other companies. TT/PX have a certified banger on their hands with Titan.”
  • CTG77: “Undoubtedly, it’s the Tensei 1K RIP shafts from Titleist. The Tensei line gives about 98% of the performance of a Ventus VeloCore+ shaft at a tiny fraction of the cost if you’re looking for a blue or red profile. The white is not an exact match for Ventus Black, but it’s closer to it than the non-VeloCore+ Ventus shafts that come from Callaway or formerly came from TaylorMade.”

Entire Thread: “Best current stock shaft 2026.”

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GolfWRX’s Father’s Day Gift Guide (2026)

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A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.

As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.

Let’s get to the gifts.

Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo

We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.

Buy here.

STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover

If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.

Buy here.

Why Golf: Putting Thing

When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.

Buy here.

OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes

Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!

Buy here.

Therabody Theragun Relief

A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down. 

Buy here.

World Cup golf apparel

Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.

Buy here.

FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes

Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.

Buy here.

Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker

Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.

Buy here.

Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls

The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!

Buy here.

 

  • GolfWRX may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

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