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Morning 9: Walk-off winner for Sergio | Ray | Reid | No. 1 am turning pro | Should golf be fair?

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1. Sergio’s walk-off win
AP report…”Sergio Garcia delivered two key shots on the back nine, the last one an 8-iron to 30 inches on the final hole for birdie and a one-shot victory in the Sanderson Farms Championship.”
  • “Garcia closed with a 5-under 67 and won for the 10th consecutive year worldwide, and the first time on the PGA TOUR since the 2017 Masters.”
  • “Peter Malnati, whose lone PGA TOUR victory came at this tournament five years ago, closed with a career-best 63 and waited nearly two hours to see if it would hold up.”
2. Iron covers and a European Tour trophy
European Tour report…”Aaron Rai defeated Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off to win his first Rolex Series title at the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.”
  • “The Englishman signed for a wonderful 64 to set the target at 11 under but countryman Fleetwood holed a 20 foot putt on the last for a closing birdie to take it to extra holes at The Renaissance Club.”
  • “It was advantage Fleetwood off the tee as Rai found a bunker but the 25 year old rescued his par and when Fleetwood three putted from just off the green, Rai had his second European Tour title.”
3. Mel Reid!
Keith Jackson for Sky Sports…“Mel Reid was relieved and delighted that her “huge sacrifice” in moving to the US was justified as she celebrated her maiden LPGA Tour title in New Jersey.”
  • “Reid atoned for her disappointing finish in Portland last week as she clinched a two-shot win over Jennifer Kupcho at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, firing a final-round 67 to set a new tournament scoring record at 19 under par.”
4. Is must be the…pants?
Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…“Evan Harmeling arrived in Savannah, Georgia, earlier this week with just one pair of golf pants.”
  • “He should be able to buy at least a few more after Sunday.”
  • “The 32-year-old Princeton grad, who two months ago didn’t even have a top-25 finish in his Korn Ferry Tour career, captured the Savannah Golf Championship in a playoff for his first KFT title.”
  • “Harmeling sunk a 12-footer for birdie on the final hole of regulation at the Landings Club, and then birdied the par-5 18th hole again in the playoff to outduel Kevin Dougherty.”
  • …”It likely helped that Harmeling was wearing his lucky outfit – yellow polo, blue pants, brown belt and white visor. The pants are Harmeling’s only golf pants, he says. Harmeling also wore the polo last year in Jamaica when he won on PGA Tour Latinoamerica.”
5. Johnny’s love/hate
I LOVE the power that Tiger Woods has over the game It’s completely earned, necessary, and I’m grateful. Not only did he change the way the game was played but he also put the game on the national stage in a way NOBODY ever dreamed nor predicted. The game itself hangs on his every move and rightly so. When was the last time you remember the No. 22-ranked player was the headliner at a tournament where the majority of the other 21 players ahead of him were also in the field? He doesn’t move the needle, he is the needle. Still.
I HATE that the game has changed so much that golf, even 15-20 years ago, is unrecognizable. With the change in equipment and the constant pursuit of speed, our sport (especially at the highest level) has morphed into the WWF. Now, I do love it and enjoy watching/covering every minute. However, it’s no longer the game I was taught; it’s something else, and at 43-years-old, it makes me feel old and weak. OK, I said it. I’m bitter. I wanna hit it like these kids do, and I can’t. I’ll retreat now to my pity party and maybe do a squat or two…until my back spasms.
6. Japan’s Takumi Kanaya, No. 1 ranked amateur in the world, set to turn pro
Ryan Herrington for Golf Digest…“The 23-year-old’s distinguished amateur career included a win at the 2018 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, which earned him spots into the 2019 Masters and Open Championship. At August National, he made the cut and finished T-58. Then last November, he became the fourth amateur in history to win an event on the Japan Golf Tour.”
7. Lynch: A major champion says farewell, with no fanfare and no fans
Happy trails, Paul Lawrie. Eamon Lynch says it better than I could…”wear, tear and Scottish weather takes a toll, and this week – at age 51 – Lawrie announced his retirement from the European Tour during the Scottish Open, his 620th start on that circuit. The low-key announcement – a farewell with no fanfare and no fans – is oddly in keeping with Lawrie’s demeanor. It’s less than he deserves.”
8. Should golf be fair?
Our Ryan Barath examines the question…“It’s a fair test” is a phrase we often hear from golfers when they describe a course, but what does it really imply?
“The phrase itself is misleading when you take a step back and realize any course played by all competitors under the same conditions is “fair.” Even then, weather changes throughout the day force golfers to play under varying circumstances which can cause a course to become more difficult. Golf is an outdoor game and with that brings in an uncontrollable element that golfers must deal with whether it be wind, rain, heat, cold, and even on occasion snow. As unfavorable as the conditions might get, they will always be “fair.”
  • “Next, we have courses, and they generally fit into two loose categories: resort-style with wide fairways and easily accessible greens and traditionally penal championship-style with longer rough, narrower fairways, and smaller or extremely sloping greens. Regardless of handicap, both styles can be enjoyed by golfers, and following the recent U.S. Open, it’s good to remind ourselves its ok to shoot a higher score sometimes-because it’s all relative to the day and conditions.”
9. Sergio’s winning WITB
Driver: TaylorMade SIM (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 Z
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM “Rocket 3” (14 degrees @14.5)
Shaft:  Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
5-wood: TaylorMade SIM (19 degrees @18.5)
Shaft:  Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: Ping Blueprint (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X

 

Wedges: Vokey SM8 (54-12D @52, 58-T)
Shafts: Nippon Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X

 

Putter: TaylorMade Spider X
Grip: SuperStroke Tour

 

Grips: SuperStroke S-Tech

 

Ball: TaylorMade TP5

 

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.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Alina

    Oct 5, 2020 at 10:57 pm

  2. Yougogirls

    Oct 5, 2020 at 9:39 pm

    The inaccurate reporting by Sky News and Ron whatshisname on the other article in regards to Mel Reid’s victory Sunday tell me one thing: nobody give a hoot about the LPGA except simps like me.

  3. Bob Pegram

    Oct 5, 2020 at 5:22 pm

    Most tournament courses are configured in a way that good shots are rewarded and bad shots are penalized. Most courses all the way to most municipal courses fit that description. However, one of the worst things that can be said about a course is that it sometimes rewards bad shots and penalizes good ones. It would be reasonable to say a course like that isn’t fair. However, courses like that are rarely chosen to host tournaments, at least in the pro ranks. Courses like that are relatively rare (Thanks God!).

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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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