News

Tour Rundown: Cantlay’s home cooking

Published

6 years ago

Oct 26, 2020

Sherwood Country Club lies one hour north and west of where Patrick Cantlay was raised. That proximity disposes his participation in the ZOZO Championship as home cooking. The California Kid lurks as a late returner, for the many established reasons (we’ll mention a pair below) and when on his game, is a bet for contention.

Ross McGowan is not those things. Prior to Sunday, he had won twice in his professional orbit. One came in Europe, on the big tour, while the other celebrated in South Africa, on the Sunshine circuit. As you can guess, he receives mention for a reason.

Finally, Ally McDonald was a head-scratcher of a USA Captain’s Pick in the 2019 Solheim Cup. Unfortunately for her, she played true to form, and didn’t help much as the USA went down in defeat. Fast forward to 2020, and McDonald faced off against the defacto number one, Danielle Kang, and…it’s time for Tour Rundown on my birthday!

Cantlay wins relocated ZOZO championship

Doesn’t seem to matter where they play the ZOZO; a Californian comes out on top. Tiger Woods won the inaugural playing in 2019, some 5500 miles distant from this year’s venue. Pandemics compel that sort of rearrangement. For all the world, it looked like a Justin Thomas vs. Jon Rahm duel, a golfers who don’t win as often as they should sort of showdown. As if to prove a point, neither one won.

Instead, it was Patrick Cantlay, the Patrick-return-lately who suffered a back injury early in his pro career, then lost his caddie/best friend in a tragic, hit-and-run when he returned. Since 2017, when the Long Beach native was finally able to put the puzzle together, he has won thrice on the PGA Tour. This week, he never looked uncomfortable until an inexplicably-pulled wedge at the 70th hole led to a comedic bogey, reducing his margin of advantage to one stroke over Rahm.

The Basque had no more stroke-savers in his pocket, and ended on -22. At the 18th, his playing partner Thomas made a birdie of his own, to tie Rahm at -22. As for Cantlay, he found pars at the bottom of the cup on 17 and 18, and signed for 23-under par on the week, thanks to a 9-birdie round of 65 on day four.

McDonald makes Drive On her first title

Ally McDonald was not anyone’s favorite when the week began at Reynolds Plantation, in Georgia. The Mississippi native (and Mississippi State alum) certainly felt at home in the southeast, but prior to Sunday, had zero professional wins to her name. That’s not to say she hadn’t experienced success. The Tupelo Kid was a major-event lurker, with six, top-25 finishes in the past two years. What made things better for her, perhaps karmic, was the coinciding of her birthday with Sunday’s final round. Making it an anniversary to remember for all time, McDonald implausibly won.

Danielle Kang was on march toward another tour victory. The black belt in karate had gone deep into the golfing dans in 2020 with two wins and a number-one ranking. All that had eluded her thus far was major championship success. Coming down the stretch, she and McDonald were locked in a battle with wunderkind Bianca Pagdanganan, the current distance leader on tour. Here’s how it shook out:

Pagdanganan birdied the final two holes … and lost. She had Faldoed her way to 16 consecutive pars on the day, and the pair of birds brought her to -14, two back of the winner;
Kang birdied the final hole … and lost. She made six birdies on the day, but a pair of bogeys did her in.

McDonald’s birdie at 16 gave her a three-shot cushion. She gave one back at 17 with bogey, then dropped a par putt at 18 to keep Kang at bay. Nothing like celebrating your 28th birthday with champagne!

McGowan lays claim to victory in Italia

As happens with many professional athletes, injuries slowed Ross McGowan as he entered the prime of his 20s. His burgeoning career stalled, and he returned to Europe’s Challenge Tour, in an effort to stoke the embers of a promising future. His inaugural victory, at the 2009 Madrid Masters, lay in the distant past. With fortitude on his side, McGowan returned to the winner’s podium in 2020, halfway between Milan and Venice.

McGowan was the talk of Brescia over three days, reaching 19 strokes below par by Saturday evening. As might have been predicted, Sunday would be different, and the Englishman endured three bogies and a double in his fourth round. It’s important to have a short memory if you wish to compete successfully, and the man from Surrey followed that double with an eagle. He wasn’t out of the choppy waters just yet, but he did uncover three more birdies along the road to the final green. McGowan made birdie at the final hole for the fourth consecutive day, slipping past another resurgent golfer by one squeaky stroke.

Nicolas Colsaerts, the lean and long-hitting Belgian, was fast-tracked for success early in his career. The anticipated never arrived, and the title journeyman was affixed to his plot line. On Sunday, Colsaerts opened with bogey, but then produced five birdies over the next 17 holes. His 68 wasn’t low round of the day, but it was low round among those who mattered. Colsaerts might have caught McGowan if golf still adhered to the St. Andrean standard of 22 holes, but that’s a matter for another epoch.

News

Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

1 hour 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

2 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.