News

Tour Rundown: Georgia Hall wins the Women’s Open for England

Published

8 years ago

Aug 6, 2018

If you blink, the golf season will be over. The dog days of August feature a WGC, followed by the PGA, then the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs … and that’s just the PGA Tour. The professional lady golfers contested their 4th major of the year at the British Open, while the Champions and Web.Com tours were also in action. If that’s not enough, the European and American PGA tours featured bonus events in Fiji and Nevada. It was a smorgasbord of delights for the epicurean golfer, so let’s run down this week’s ample buffet.

Bridgestone Invitational swan song at Firestone

When he wasn’t blasting 375-yard drives, Justin Thomas was placing his approach shots closer than the competition. Those two figures added up to a 9th tour win and a first WGC championship for the young man from the hills of Kentucky. The 2017 PGA champion opened with 65-64, good for a tie with Ian Poulter atop the board. Thomas went a bit higher with 67 on Saturday, but it was quite good against Poulter’s even-par 70. On Sunday, while Dustin Johnson was sending shivers with an outward 29, Thomas continued to play with confidence and guile. Firestone has always been an air-ball course, and with the deeper drives of the contemporary player, the angles have changed. Thomas figured those out better than anyone this week, and brought a fine champion in the final year of Firestone on the PGA Tour. As Poulter drifted farther off, to a tie for 10th, Kyle Stanley took advantage of the opening and posted 68 for 11-under, and solo second.

Tree trails ????

JT saved par from here. pic.twitter.com/jZWfKj1xC9

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 5, 2018

Women’s British Open trophy will stay in England

14 years passed since Karen Stupples last won the British Open for England. In 2018, Georgia Hall played her way into the final game at Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s. Paired with Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum, the 22-year old Hall began the 4th day with 3 birdies in her first 6 holes … and lost ground! Phatlum scorched the opening third with 4 birdies of her own, Bogey at the 8th appeared to derail the Thai golfer’s momentum, and she did not birdie again until the 15th. Meanwhile, Hall kept her card clean, then added birdies at 13, 15 and 16 to wrest the lead from Phatlum. Both players showed nerves over the closing stretch. Phatlum made a double-bogey 6 at the 17th, to finish on 15-under par. Hall closed with bogey, but had enough strokes in the suitcase to close at 17-under, 2 strokes clear of Phatlum. The win was Hall’s first major, and first LPGA Tour victory.

That’s how you start the final round of a Major

With a birdie to tie the lead @georgiahall96 -13 ???????????????????????????? @pphatlum01 -13 ????????

pic.twitter.com/RyEFPhu1zN

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 5, 2018

Barracuda Championship belongs to Putnam

We know that the PGA Tour will return to Montreux golf and country club, in Reno, next July. The event will have a new sponsor, but hopefully, the same format. A good Stableford, with 5 or 7 points on the line at the last hole, keeps everyone’s attention. Andrew Putnam came to the last hole with a 4 point lead, but up ahead, Chad Campbell faced an eagle pitch. Three at the last would have moved him ahead of Putnam, forcing the former Pepperdine golfer to make birdie for the win. Campbell could only summon birdie, meaning that Putnam only needed bogey to cinch his first Tour victory. He didn’t make it easy, with a drive into the rough and an approach shot, short of the green. Electing to putt, Putnam dropped his 4th for birdie, restoring his 4-point margin of victory. The biggest mover on day 4 was William McGirt, whose 20 points more than doubled Putnam’s 9. McGirt moved from 49th to 6th spot, and into 111th on the FedEx Cup points list.

A lifelong dream for @AndrewPutnam1.

He's won the @CudaChamp!

? First PGA TOUR win.
? 300 #FedExCup points.
? 2-year exemption. ????????#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/RURI6fPOlF

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 6, 2018

KC Golf Classic comes down to wire in Overland Park

The list of recognizable Austrian golfers is a short one. It might begin and end with Bernd Wiesberger, unless you are a true aficionado of the sport. With more performances like Sunday’s, Sepp Straka might make his way onto the radar screen. He’s so new, the Web.Com Tour site hadn’t updated his profile with career victory number one as of 6 am on Monday. Straka’s performance was up, down, and all around, but in the end, good enough for a 1-shot margin of victory over Kyle Jones. The 25-year old’s distaste for par was evident; he only made 7 in round 4. Seven birdies and 4 bogeys gave him 69 on day four. When Jones went from fairway bunker to fringe to bogey at the last, the door was open. Playing in the same group as Jones, Straka did him one better: fairway bunker to greenside bunker to par, for a double sandy and victory.

Kyle Jones and @SeppStraka traded punches throughout the weekend @KCGolfClassic.

And it came down to the final putt. pic.twitter.com/BSe1co4TWr

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) August 6, 2018

3M Championship goes to nervous Kenny Perry

Is it possible to shoot a 60 that never had a chance to be a 59? Kenny Perry did just that on Saturday of the 3M Championship. His round was a thing of beauty, 8-under through 15 holes. He certainly would find himself near the top of the board. Perry closed birdie-birdie-eagle for 12-under on the day. Whooooooo. On Sunday, they say, the hardest thing to do is follow a super-low round with one good enough to win. Perry bucked the trend, survived back-to-back bogeys on the front nine, and finished off a 3-shot victory over Wes Short, jr. The runner-up did his best Perry impression, going 9-under on day three to apply pressure. Perry was solid on the inward half, posting three birdies for his 9th win on the Champions tour.

Dagger.@KennyPerryGolf is in perfect shape on the 18th green and holds a 2-shot lead at the @3MChampionship. pic.twitter.com/Wl2gGWipJg

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 5, 2018

European Tour: Fiji International to Bhullar with late heroics

How did he do this! Gaganjeet Bhullar missed a short birdie putt at 16 to close within one of leader Anthony Quayle. Quayle had just ripped a long iron to eagle range at the penultimate hole, then drained the putt to reach -14, or so we thought. Bhullar misplayed his 2nd to the par-five 17th, leaving a 30-yard pitch to the flag. Quayle made par at the last, and the television folk called it a fine, 10-under 62, a new course record. As cards were being signed, it was learned that Quayle had made an early bogey, and that his course record was 63, not 62. And Bhullar? Just a little pitch-in for eagle at 17, followed by par at 18 for a one-shot victory, the 9th of his career.

BHULLAR with an Eagle on 17!

Are you kidding me?!

He is now one ahead with one to play! #FijiIntl pic.twitter.com/pXetvjLfJY

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) August 5, 2018

News

Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

18 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

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.”

News

Best current stock shaft 2026 – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

18 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Will Schube

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.”

News

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

Published

3 days ago

Jun 9, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

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.