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Morning 9: Moore prevails | Lee wins again | JT to skip Match Play

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

March 20, 2023

Good Monday morning, golf fans, after an action packed Sunday at Valspar delivered big on entertainment.

1. Moore wins at Valspar

AP Report…”Taylor Moore was never really the star attraction Sunday at the Valspar Championship until he had finished hitting all the right shots and posed with the trophy for his first PGA Tour title, which sends him to the Masters.”

  • “Adam Schenk and Jordan Spieth provided enough compelling theater for so much of the day, locked in a battle on the back nine of the Copperhead course at Innisbrook.”
  • “When it was over, all they shared was misfortune.”
Full piece.

2. DP World Tour: Baldwin earns maiden win at SDC Championship

SkySports report…”England’s Matthew Baldwin began Sunday in a tie for the lead but three birdies in the last four holes of his suspended third round earned him a four-shot advantage going into the final round; he then carded a 68 to close the tournament 18 under, seven clear of Spain’s Adri Arnaus in second”

Full piece.

3. Danny Lee a winner again

AFP Report…”New Zealand’s Danny Lee ended his eight-year title drought with victory in a playoff to win LIV Golf’s Tucson event on Sunday.

  • “Lee, who defected to the lucrative Saudi Arabia-backed circuit last month, had not won as a professional since his victory in the 2015 PGA Tour Greenbrier Classic.”
Full piece.

4. JT skipping Match Play

Joel Beall for Golf Digest…”Thomas is one of just two eligible players who is skipping the final WGC contest next week at Austin Country Club. Speaking to the press Friday at the Valspar Championship, Thomas cited his love for the Valspar venue, Innisbrook, while noting he never has felt the same way towards Austin C.C.”

  • “[Innisbrook] is a place I love. I really, really love the golf course. I just I feel like I have a really good chance to win there if I go play. I just, I simply don’t feel that way about Austin Country Club,” Thomas said. “It’s nothing against the course; I’ve just, I’ve played it six times and I’ve played it really bad five of them.
  • “So, I just felt like it was a better decision for me to go to a place where I at least had some positivity and felt like I had a lot better chance to win than going to an elevated event, a huge event, being the Match Play, but knowing that I’ve had no success except for kind of—I would hate to call it a fluke year, but one year. And I didn’t really want to take three weeks off before the Masters.”
Full piece.

5. Sergio hits back at Couples

Alex Miceli for SI…”Garcia responded to Couples, who called the 2017 Masters Champion a “clown” earlier this week in California at a speaking engagement before the Hoag Classic on the PGA Champions Tour.”

  • “It’s what it is,” Garcia told Sports Illustrated on Friday at the LIV Golf event in Tucson. “It’s disappointing because I don’t know where he’s going with this. But it’s Freddy so he can say whatever he wants and then we can say whatever we want. I think at the end of the day his life is his life and my life in this case is my life. So, I don’t think he should comment on what me or any of these other guys should have done because we didn’t tell him what he had to do.”
Full piece.

6. Judge stays ruling to submit Saudi Arabia PIF and its governor to discovery

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard…”A ruling that could subject the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and its governor to discovery in a U.S. District Court has been stayed pending a closer review.”

  • “The original ruling, granted by a magistrate judge, ordered the PIF and its governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, to submit to discovery in the antitrust case against the PGA Tour by a group of players who joined LIV Golf.”
  • “Lawyers for the Tour had claimed that PIF and Al-Rumayyan were the “de facto” leaders of LIV Golf and therefore should be forced to submit to discovery in the circuit’s countersuit; while attorneys for the fund contend they are simply investors in the start-up league and are not subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. courts.”
Full piece.

7. Report: LIV strips broadcast crews’ healthcare, other benefits

From the IATSE…”In LIV Golf’s 2022 inaugural season, crewmembers worked under a union contract, which contributed to the healthcare and retirement benefits that workers deserve. But the deal changed for the crew in LIV’s 2023 sophomore season. Workers were shocked to learn that LIV had pulled the rug out from under them by shifting to a non-union production company and circumventing the need to provide important employee benefits. As it stands the technicians behind LIV Golf’s telecasts are some of the few in major sports who do not receive health and retirement benefits when providing world-class coverage.”

  • “I gave up other work last year to commit to LIV because I knew I would receive much-needed healthcare contributions to keep my family in coverage,” said one crewmember. “But now that’s all changed, there seems to be plenty of money to spend on extravagant excess but not to guarantee the crew that puts their product on the air access to healthcare. These are industry standards, and the LIV executives could care less.”
Full piece.

8. Els breaks drought

AP Report..”Ernie Els kept making birdies no matter how he gripped the putter Sunday, and it carried him to a 6-under 65 to win the Hoag Classic and deny Bernhard Langer a chance at setting the career victory mark on the PGA Tour Champions.”

  • Els started the final round five shots behind Langer when the big South African rolled in three straight birdie putts to get in the mix, and he closed it out with a 65-yard bunker shot to 12 feet and a birdie on the 18th hole about the time Langer began to falter.
Full piece.

9. Winning WITB: Taylor Moore

Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX

3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees @16)

Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X

7-wood: Ping G430 Max (21 degrees @19.75)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX

Irons: Ping i230 (4), Ping S55 (5-PW)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100 (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Nid Tour Issue X100 (4-9)

Wedges: Ping Glide Forged Pro (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-10S)

Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Ping PLD Oslo 4 prototype

Grip: Ping

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Grips: Golf Pride MCC

Full WITB.

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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News

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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