News

Tour Rundown: Tour Championship in the hands of the engineer | Annika to Nels

Published

2 years ago

Nov 18, 2024

The weeks have dwindled to two. The LPGA and PGA Tours finish their schedules on Sunday next, while the remaining world tours have buttoned up their 2024 official seasons. I love writing Tour Rundown, but do understand that everyone runs out of gas, be they golfers, readers, or editors! It’s nice to take a break for the holidays, so after next week’s final installment for 2024, we’ll all put our feet up and give it a rest. For now, though, let’s workshop a new feature for 2025, the TFTW.

Thought for the week

The LPGA Tour commissioner got hit hard this week in an opinion piece from Beth Ann Nichols. I did a bit of research (emphasis on bit) by checking out the YouTube pages of three of the world’s tours. Each tour prepares highlight packages for the day’s play, and often puts together a separate one for the top player. Only on the LPGA YouTube feed do you see missed shots on the highlight reel. No one chases a highlight package to see missed short putts, long putts that almost go in, and poor chips. You find these on the LPGA feed. That’s one place for the LPGA to strengthen its presentation to the world. Show us the best shots only, even if the players aren’t in contention.

DP World Tour: Tour Championship in the hands of the engineer

The story of Rory, locking himself in a simulator for a time, to sort out his golf swing, has legs. McIlroy entered the final week of the DP World Tour season with two hands firmly on the season-long chase for the championship. Only Thriston Lawrence could overtake him. Let’s promptly dispense with that storyline: Lawrence tied for 30th, an unfortunate end to a stellar season.

No great champion wishes to back into recogniation as the year-long celebrant. McIlroy wanted the win this week at the Earth course. Standing in his way was the defending champion, Nikolai Hojgaard. Whoops, sorry, the twin brother of the defending champion, Rasmus Hojgaard. They look so much alike, amiright? Nik wasn’t back to defend; he spent his year on the US PGA tour and didn’t qualify in. That’s an oddity in itself~shouldn’t the DC be invited back, no matter what?

Rory, Rasmus, and Antoine Rozner stood as one, tied at -12, with 18 holes to play. Rozner fell away first, turning in +1 before a final-hole birdie returned him to a worthy tie for third, with Adam Scott and Shane Lowry. Hojgaard played -1 golf through seven holes, before closing with eleven consecutive pars. That’s a lot to do on a blustery day, and day four in the United Arab Emirates was certainly that. The problem for Rasmus was Rory.

The Northern Irishman erased a hole-one bogey with four consecutive birdies, from two through five. The challenge was made, and Rory did not back down. He needed his swing to hold up under pressure, and for the most part, it did. Loads of pars were joined by two bogies, from holes six through fifteen. On nine, a drive missed left led to a bunkered approach, and an unsucccessful up and down. The second bogey came at the short 13th, where a tee ball hit long (shades of Pinehurst #2) met a poor chip and a missed putt from 15 feet. With three remaining holes, R and R were tied atop the board.

McIlroy stuffed an approach on 16 for a needed birdie, then closed with another at the last, for a two-shot margin of victory. The win was his career-third in the tournament, and his sixth season title, matching Seve Ballesteros for the most. Rozner, Rasmus, and Rory served up a fitting end to the 2024 DP World Tour race, and can be forgiven for feeling a bit … wait for it … run down.

Step up Rory McIlroy ?

He moves one shot ahead with two holes to play.#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/ZLp3rVbJp4

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 17, 2024

LPGA: The Annika belongs to the Nels

Why couldn’t Charley Hull post 67 and win The Annika outright? Why couldn’t Weiwei Zhang sign for 66, a day after autographing a 62 scorecard? Sometimes, it’s the echo of the footsteps. Nelly Korda’s footsteps echo loud and far.

Korda posted two rounds of 66, and two more of 67, on her way to a three-shot victory over Zhang, Hull, and Im Jin-Hee. To be fair, the runners-up trio was playing an away game, while the Florida kid was on home turf. Korda was raised in the sunshine state, and her comfort on the grasses of Florida is unmatched by anyone. Four of her 15 tour titles have come within the confines of her state residence.

You might be shocked to learn that Korda made three bogeys on her way to an outward 37. Seriously? Then, she ran off five consecutive birdies, from holes eleven through fifteen, to send her challengers away to a warming cup of tea. This was her event, mind you, from start to finish. No stumbles nor bumbles, no hiccoughs nor potholes, would deter her from her appointment with the trophy’s engraver.

Teeing off at 18, @NellyKorda has a two shot lead ?

Tune in on @GolfChannel to see who wins @theANNIKAlpga ? pic.twitter.com/JNvPiDnhtJ

— LPGA (@LPGA) November 17, 2024

PGA Tour: Bermuda is buttery for Rafa

980 nautical miles float between Puerto Rico and Bermuda. Both occupy space in the Atlantic, and both identify as islands. Rafael Campos became a PGA Tour winner this week on Bermuda, and the entirety of Puerto Rico celebrated this achievement. Campos had previously won on the Korn Ferry Tour, in the Bahamas. There’s a pattern developing here, and Rafa has no problem with any of it.

Justin Lower, Andrew Novak, and Campos all began Sunday at 16-deep. Lower, in the hunt last week in Mexico, came out strong, but tripped over a double bogey at the par-three eighth hole. Needing to make something happen as opportunity waned, Lower closed with three bogeys over the final quintet, salvaged by a 17th-hole birdie. He finished +1 on the day, -14 for the week, tied for fifth spot. Novak fared better. Despite a bogey at the last, he matched three birdies with three bogeys, posted even for round four, and secured solo second by a stroke.

It was Campos who played his round of the season, when it mattered most. The unflappable Borinquen made a trio of bogeys on the day. Didn’t matter. He signed for four birdies and one eagle, and came home in three-under 69. His margin of victory was three shots over Novak, and earned him much-needed, FedEx Cup points for 2025.

256 yards to 3 feet!
@RafaCamposGolf ties the lead in style @Bermuda_Champ. pic.twitter.com/ah61H84RZz

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 17, 2024

PGA: Assistants Championship

Preston Cole arrived in Port St. Lucie as the defending PGA Assistants champion. With 18 holes left to play, he found himself in second place, but seven shots in arrears. The problem was, Old Corkscrew’s Domenico Geminiani had roasted the Wannamaker course at PGA golf club through 54 holes. On Sunday, Geminiani cooled off, to a 74, but he had enough margin to claim the 2024 PGA Assistants championship.

Cole played well on Sunday, posting 70 to reach minus-nine. Zac Oakley from Delaware’s Bidemann Club zoomed up the board with 68, catching Cole for second spot. Geminiani played the game of Catch me if you can on day four. He stood even on the day through 16, before bogeys at the final two holes made the tournament result much tighter. Geminiani concluded play at twelve-under par, three shots clear of the runners-up. The win was his second PGANA title in three years.

Después de hacer 5-bajo par en la ida, Domenico Geminiani hace un nuevo birdie en el 15 para llegar a 6-bajo par.

After a 5-under on the front-nine, Domenico Geminiani made this birdie on 15th. He moves to 6-under with 3 holes to play.@TCWestonHills pic.twitter.com/G4Wqk6xsZn

— PGA TOUR Americas en Español (@PGATAmericasESP) June 10, 2021

News

Most birdies without breaking par – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

15 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

16 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

3 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.