News

Morning 9: McIlroy poised? | Bryson to bomb it | JT: Fans make the major | Phil 2006 WITB

Published

6 years ago

Sep 16, 2020

1. Rory back from diaper duty with a fresh perspective

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…“During the time off from his day job, McIlroy said he fully embraced every aspect of fatherhood.

“I actually changed the first two diapers, so I’m very proud of that. But yeah, I’ve got my hands dirty; put it that way,” he said with a laugh on Tuesday at Winged Foot…”

“I think that’s maybe something that I haven’t done so well in the past is I haven’t left my job at the office; basically, I’ve brought it home with me, and I’ve let it affect my mood and how I am,” said McIlroy, the winner of the 2011 U.S. Open. “I think having that little bit more perspective definitely helps.”

Full piece.

2. JT: fans make the major

ESPN report…”Justin Thomas, who said having no fans on site this week at Winged Foot Golf Club — as well as last month at Harding Park for the PGA Championship — takes away from the experience.”

“[The PGA] didn’t feel anything remotely close to a major,” Thomas said Tuesday at Winged Foot. “It is a shame because Harding and here are just two terrific major championship venues, especially here in New York with the very passionate fans they have here.

“To not be able to experience that takes away a lot of a championship, let alone a U.S. Open. Especially coming down the last nine and on Sunday, it’s going to have a big impact, I think. At least I know I miss them, and I wish they could have been out here. But it’s night-and-day different.”

Full piece.

Additionally, JT had this to say…“I’ve never experienced so many times where you could use a backstop on a putt, which is an odd thing to say and probably picture, hearing me say it, but I’ve hit a lot of lag putts the last few days, and more often than not I’m able to like use a slope past the hole to get to where a pin is going to be, which is very bizarre.”

“It is, it is hard to tell on TV, but yeah, the viewers at home are going to see some pretty bizarre stuff and probably a lot of putts and chips that make us look pretty bad. If you’re into that stuff, then you’re going to like this week.”

3. Bryson plans to overpower Winged Foot…48-inch driver in his future?

Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner…“I’m hitting it as far as I possibly can up there,” he said after a practice round Tuesday at the U.S. Open. “Even if it’s in the rough, I can still get it to the front edge or the middle of the green with pitching wedges or 9-irons. That’s the beauty of my length and that advantage.”

“DeChambeau’s strategy, not surprisingly, runs counter to some of his peers, who said they were going to emphasize putting the ball in play more often to avoid the long, gnarly rough. In fact, just a few minutes before DeChambeau’s presser, Rory McIlroy spoke in the interview area. “I’d still take hitting fairways over hitting it 350 in the rough here,” McIlroy said.”

Full piece.

4. Lynch: Patience key for TW

Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch….“Winged Foot, on the other hand, is that rarest of fabled major venues: one where Woods’ record is undistinguished, though not quite forgettable. In the last U.S. Open contested here in 2006, he missed the weekend cut in a major for the first time in his professional career with a pair of 76s. That Open had been his first start after the death a month earlier of his father, Earl, a memory Woods revisited on Tuesday.”

“When I didn’t win the Masters that year, that was really tough to take because that was the last event my dad was ever going to watch me play. He passed not too long after that,” he said. “And quite frankly, when I got ready for this event, I didn’t really put in the time. I didn’t really put in the practice, and consequently missed the cut pretty easily.”

“Woods bounced back pretty well from that missed cut, winning ’06’s two remaining majors at the Open and PGA Championship. Those were, respectively, the 11th and 12th major victories of his career. There have been just three since, the most recent two being among the most improbable of all: a fifth Masters green jacket in ’19 and, eleven years earlier, his last (to date) U.S. Open title, accomplished on one leg at Torrey Pines.”

Full piece.

5. Portland Classic shortened to 54 holes

AP report…”The LPGA Tour’s Portland Classic set for this weekend has been reduced to 54 holes because of poor air quality caused by wildfires that have been burning across the West.”

“The course and practice facilities at Columbia Edgewater Country Club remained closed Tuesday, and Wednesday’s Pro-AM has been canceled. The air quality in Portland has been at dangerous levels because of the wildfires in Oregon, Washington and California.”

Full piece.

6. LPGA adds another Drive On Championship…cancels two events in Asia

David Song for Golfweek…”Coming off the momentum of a dramatic ANA Inspiration, the LPGA announced on Tuesday that a new tournament will be added to its schedule.”

“Golf fans will be treated to the LPGA Drive On Championship – Reynolds Lake Oconee, Oct. 22-25, in Greensboro, Georgia.”

…”The tour also announced the cancellation of the BMW Ladies Championship and the Toto Japan Classic. Both events will return next year.”

Full piece.

7. Mickelson’s 2006 Winged Foot WITB vs. today

Compiled by our Johnny Wunder for PGATour.com

Here is Phil Mickelson’s WITB from the 2006 U.S. Open and what he’s playing for the 2020 edition.

2006 U.S. Open

Driver: Callaway FT-3 Tour (8.5 degrees)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 73X

3-wood: Callaway X (15 degrees)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 73X

Irons: Callaway X Tour (2-PW)

Shafts: Project X Rifle (Satin) 7.0

Wedges: Callaway X Forged (54, 60)

Shafts: Project X Rifle (Satin) 7.0

Putter: Odyssey PM Proto Mallet Blade #9

Grips: Royal Grip Sand Wrap

Ball: Callaway HX Tour

2020 U.S. Open

Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (9 degrees)

Shaft: KBS TD 70 C5 TX

3-wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero 3+ (13.5 degrees)

Shaft: KBS TD 80 C5 TX

5-wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero (18 degrees)

Shaft: KBS TD 80 C5 TX

Irons: Callaway Epic Forged (4-7), Callaway Apex MB (8-PW)

Shafts: KBS Tour V 125 S+ (4-PW)

Wedges: Callaway MD3 (56 degrees bent to 53.5), Callaway PM Grind ’19 “Raw” (60-12, 64-10)

Shafts: KBS Tour-V 125 S+

Putter: Odyssey WHXG Blade “Phil Mickelson”

Grip: SuperStroke Pistol GT Tour

Full piece.

8. Scott Fawcett’s Winged Foot strategic suggestions

The founder of Decade-a golf course management strategy several players on the PGA Tour, including Bryson DeChambeau, use-talked with Daniel Rapaport at Golf Digest.

“The sixth at Winged Foot is the prototypical risk-reward hole. At 321 yards, it is by far the shortest par 4 on the West course. It also has the narrowest fairway, a little more than 20 yards wide, with a bunker down the left…”

“On holes like these, there are two options-get aggressive and go for the green, or play conservative and lay back with an iron. At least, that’s the old approach to strategy, the one that ruled the day in 2006.”

“Going for the green is the only play,” says Scott Fawcett, architecture be damned. Fawcett, 47, is the creator of DECADE, a data-based course-management system that has steadily grown in popularity among PGA Tour players. “One-hundred percent the only play.”

“The fairway is only 24 yards wide short of that bunker. You’re just not going to hit that often enough to make it worth the distance you’re giving up. Say you hit it around 75 percent of the time. So 25 percent of the time, you miss the fairway and you’re 120 away. You’re so dead it’s ridiculous.”

“Instead, Fawcett will tell his players to go for it. Except don’t aim at the green. Aim just left of it. Because that’s the centerline of a 65-yard shot pattern at 300 yards-which is about average dispersion for a tour pro in competition. And, according to Fawcett’s philosophy, that gives you the best chance of making the best score. If you hit the green, fantastic. If you miss the green in the bunker right, easy enough. If you miss it left, just get it somewhere on the putting surface and grind out a par.”

Full piece.

9. Tiger’s Scotty Newport 2 backup at auction

A few of these have hit the block in recent years…bid is already at $30K

Our Gianni Magliocco with the details.

News

Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

12 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

13 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

2 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.