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Morning 9: Bold prediction: DJ wins the FedEx Cup | KFT, Euro winners | Rory explains “that” shot

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1. With a 5-shot lead, DJ poised to hoist the FedEx Cup
Safe to say he hasn’t been dwelling on his BMW Championship defeat…
AP report…”Dustin Johnson started with the lead, matched the low round Sunday at the Tour Championship with a 6-under 64 and now is one round away from capturing the FedEx Cup and its $15 million prize.”
  • “Johnson missed only three fairways and putted for birdie on all but three holes. It led to a five-shot lead over Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele going into the Labor Day finish at East Lake.”
2. Little adjustment, big benefit
Sean Martin at PGATour.com on DJ’s adjustment…”Dustin Johnson has a gift for making this maddening game seem so simple, so it was fitting that the fix for his wayward ball-striking was an easy one.”
  • “He was standing too far from the ball. That’s it.”
  • “I felt like I was swinging well. The setup was just a hair off,” he said. “I was just hitting the driver a little bit towards the toe, and obviously when you hit it off the toe it does not like to cut.”
3. Meanwhile, on the Korn Ferry Tour…
At the superbly named Lincoln Land Championship… “Bill Welt, USA Today Network…Australian golfer Brett Drewitt thought about skipping the Lincoln Land Championship.”
  • “He missed his family in Florida and had only made six of 18 cuts since the start of the season. Thankfully, Drewitt decided otherwise after a chat with his wife, Brianna.”
  • “Drewitt capitalized with a one-stroke victory Sunday at 19-under-par, his first win since last year on the Outlaw Tour and first-ever on the Korn Ferry Tour.”
  • “I just kind of went for it,” said Drewitt, who finished the round 3-under. “I said, ‘You know what, I’m doing this for a living and a lot of people would kill for that.’ I just went at it and played my own game.”
4. First American to win at Valderrama since Tiger
…and in Spain…AP report…”John Catlin became the first American since Tiger Woods to win at Valderrama on Sunday, surviving conditions so difficult that he didn’t make a birdie in his 4-over 75 and held on for a one-shot victory in the Andalucia Masters.”
  • “Catlin won for the first time on the European Tour and denied Martin Kaymer another chance to end a six-year drought.”
  • “Kaymer, who now has gone 156 events since his last victory in the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, twice had birdie putts inside 10 feet to take the lead. He missed them both on the 16th and 17th holes, and they proved costly.”
5. JT charging
A personal best, but…
  • Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…”Justin Thomas appears to have found an answer for his recent putting woes, but it might be too late to salvage his week.”
  • “Following two poor putting rounds at the Tour Championship, he picked up nearly one-and-a-half shots on the greens, according to strokes gained: putting, and rolled in 139 feet of putts on Sunday. Over the first two rounds combined, he made just 107 feet of putts.”
  • “I didn’t feel as bad as I guess my stats were showing. I was awfully optimistic for being last in the field by a mile. That’s for sure. I don’t know why,” Thomas said. “I finally knew what I was doing, and I simply just wasn’t hitting it hard enough.”
6. “Palpable sense of comfort”
Interesting perspective (as always) from Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch…“Golf fans ought to feel a palpable sense of comfort in knowing that those two outstanding majors rest with the USGA and Augusta National Golf Club. There are no two bodies more devoted to continuity, both led by the kind of people who – to borrow E.B. White’s memorable phrase – wind the clock daily as a contribution toward order and steadfastness.”
  • “If all goes according to the (re)plan, the U.S. Open will begin Sept. 17 at Winged Foot’s West Course, just north of New York City. There’s a dandy symbolism in managing to stage the event in a region that only a few months ago was being ravaged by coronavirus, with more than 32,000 deaths. This 120th playing of the Open will be atypical, thanks to the absence of fans, infrastructure and the saccharine Father’s Day bromides to every man who ever sired. But in other ways, golf fans could have four days to relish the old normal.”
  • “Seriously. What better way to feel like the glory days are here again than an Open contested over a classic Northeastern course? One set up to extract its pound of flesh from participants. Where players start keening like an Irish banshee early in the week and don’t let up until it’s wheels up for their Gulfstreams on the journey home. In a year when we can’t seem to count on much, surely we can count on Winged Foot and the USGA?”
7. Rory on his 20-handicapper effort
By now, you’ve seen the clip of Rory McIlroy’s golf ball extraction gone wrong. And after thinking “Rory McIlroy: He’s just like us!” (he isn’t), you most likely wondered “what happened?”
  • Well, PGATour.com’s Sean Martin writes…“So, what happend? We’ll let McIlroy take it from here. He was gracious enough to speak to the media after making that mistake on his final hole of the day. Here’s what he had to say:”
  • “The lie was sort of iffy. My biggest concern was trying to carry the first bunker on the right there, and I knew I needed to hit it really hard and I swung hard at it, and I got it maybe like right in the middle of the ball. … I felt like if I tried to sweep it, it would be better, and I just sort of came up on it a little bit.
  • “Probably in hindsight trying to take on a little bit too much. So yeah, and then it would have been nice to get away with a par. It wasn’t to be.”
8. The presumptive winning WITB
DJ’s sticks…
Driver: TaylorMade SIM (10.5 @10 degrees, D4 swing weight)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 661 X (45.75 inches, 59 lie, D4)
Fairway woods: TaylorMade SIM Max (15 degrees, 21 degrees)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X (42.75 inches, 59.5, D4), Project X HZURDUS Black 95 6.5
Irons: TaylorMade P730 DJ Proto (3-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (soft-stepped)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG (52 @54 degrees, 60-10)
Shafts: KBS Tour Custom Black 120 S
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Limited Itsy Bitsy
Grip: SuperStroke Traxion Pistol GT 1.0
Ball: TaylorMade TP5X (#1)
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 58R (1 wrap 2-way tape + 2 wraps left hand, 3 right hand)

Photos here.

9. GolfWRX x TRENDYGOLF USA 
I’m proud of this partnership and very much looking forward to what the future holds-even if means needing to expand my shoe rack. We’re joining forces with TRENDYGOLF USA to showcase some of the hottest golf footwear and apparel in the rapidly evolving market for those two quantities.

 

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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