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Apr 25, 2023

Tour Rundown: Rose rises to the top

Published on By It was a week for playoffs and close finishes as June weekend

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It was a week for playoffs and close finishes as June weekend arrived in 2023. Three tours went to extra holes, while another was decided by a single stroke. The two-shot margin on the DP World Tour almost felt like a runaway in contrast, except for the shot that the winner had to manufacture at the last. With everything on the line, Tom McKibbin delivered a magical strike. From Ohio to New Jersey to North Carolina in the USA, to Colombia and Germany across international lines, five tournaments crowned worthy winners, and gave us one more reason to run down all the results in this week's edition of Tour Rundown.

The slam dunk eagle from @jenniferkupcho earlier in the round ?

Catch the end of the action live on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/rTJLcGERyX

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 4, 2023

DP World Tour @ European Open: McKibbin takes a bow for Northern Ireland

Tom McKibbin was hoping to share the spotlight with countryman Rory McIlroy, atop two separate podia on two distinct tours. McKibbin got work done in Hamburg, but Roars was unable to comply and match his efforts across the Atlantic.

McKibbin entered the final round in a six-way tie for first with Alexander Björk, John Axlesen, Jordan Smith, David Law, and Julien Guerrier. The first four shared one thing on Sunday: a scorecard with a stroke total of 75. That quadrilateral tumbled to a sixth-place tie, five shots out of first place. Guerrier held on much longer, but was done in by a dearth of birdies. Making but two on the day was enough to keep him under par on Sunday, but not enough to equal McKibbin.

The Northern Irishman, previously without a victory on the big tour, came out like he owned the event. An outward nine of 32 made him look like a runaway victor, but a pair of early bogeys on the inward half returned doubt to the outcome. When many a competitor would have wilted, McKibbin did the opposite. He steadied the ship with two final birdies, at 15 and 18. The one at the closing hole, when the stakes were highest, should be seen to be believed, so have a glance below.

Shot of the day. Shot of the week.

Take a bow, @tommckibbin8 ?#PEO23 pic.twitter.com/2JEOKs8gRj

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 4, 2023

LPGA @ Mizuho Americas Open: Rose rises in her professional debut

From Shakespeare to country music, the metaphors for Rose Zhang's first name are plentiful, so we’ll let the golf and the composure convey the message. Rose Zhang made her professional debut this week, on the LPGA tour, after winning everything in amateur golf. She was an NCAA individual medalist, a USGA Junior and Amateur champion, and a victor in the Augusta National Women's Amateur. In team competition, she was member of winning squads in the NCAA, the Pan American games, and twice in the Curtis Cup. Despite a remaining year of college eligibility, it was time for the young Californian to take the next step, and she did, and she did, and she did!

Zhang took her bow not super-far from Broadway's lights, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Playing on a sponsor's exemption in the first Mizuho Open, Zhang eased her way up the leaderboard until suddenly, on Saturday evening, she was in the lead. Well, didn't the golf world go wild! Folks forgot that, just like the final round at Augusta in April, it takes guts and grit to close out a tournament. Just as Zhang fought to a playoff win in Georgia, she would have to do the same in Jersey.

After snatching 14 birdies and an eagle over the first three rounds, Zhang had absolute zero of those on Sunday. Forget A and B games; how do you win a tournament with your C game? Zhang got it done. She kept the bogey total to two on the day, although a five at the last extended her week for another hour. Jennifer Kupcho, the inaugural ANWA champion in 2019, posted 69 on Sunday, making up five shots on Zhang. Kupcho's slam-dunk eagle (seen above) was the highlight of a round that almost saw her snatch victory from the new kid on the tour.

The playoff saw how match play golf makes a medal play event simultaneously more uncomfortable (for the player) and interesting (for the fan.) Both golfers chopped their way through the first hole, scratching out pars from less-than-stellar shots. The second go-round in overtime was more textbook, but Zhang's stellar approach rattled Kupcho, who failed to match. Her ensuing three-putt allowed young Zhang to two-putt from ten feet for par, to claim the jar.

What. A. Shot. ?

Rose Zhang knocks one close on the second playoff hole at Liberty National

Watch now on @GolfChannel! pic.twitter.com/dc98bCIOed

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 5, 2023

PGA Tour @ The Memorial: Hovland moves to mainland USA for fourth Tour victory

Viktor Hovland was one of three heralded amateurs to turn professional in 2019. Matthew Wolfe burned brightest early, with a win in Minnesota. Collin Morikawa ignited with two major title in his first three years among the professional ranks. For Hovland, it seems that a steady climb up the ladder is in the works. The Norwegian first won in Puerto Rico, in 202o. He followed that with two wins in Mexico, in late 2020 and again in 2021. This week, Hovland took another ascended another rung on the ladder, with a title in Ohio, at Jack's Place.

The 2023 Memorial seemed to be a fitting place for Hovland to make his mark. The annual honoree was Larry Nelson, a two-time major winner in the 1980s. A grinder like Hovland, Nelson quietly clawed his way up the climbing wall of recognition on the PGA Tour. Hovland survived this week as the last man standing, outlasting a game Denny McCarthy in a playoff.

Scottie Scheffler was there for a time, until bogey at the 71st hole did him in. Si Woo Kim mixed a bitter cocktail of birdies, bogeys, and doubles on the inward half, to end his chances. And the aforementioned Rory, tied with Si Woo after 54 holes, had a final-round pratfall, ending in 75 and a tie for seventh. It was left to Hovland and McCarthy to settle matters in extra time. The session was brief.

Hovland found the fairway left, while McCarthy pushed his drive right. He had to pitch out to the fairway, while Hovland reached the putting surface with his second. McCarthy's third settled 15 feet from the hole, while the Norwegian faced nearly 60 feet of sloping frog hair. His approach putt was barely acceptable, finishing seven feet off the mark. From there, McCarthy missed and Hovland made, and the bow was tied in a neat little knot.

Shot of the day. Shot of the week.

Take a bow, @tommckibbin8 ?#PEO23 pic.twitter.com/2JEOKs8gRj

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 4, 2023

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Challenge: Fernández-Valdés wins at next level

Jorge Fernández-Valdés stayed home in Argentina for his amateur career. He represented the azul celeste in two Eisenhower international team events, and won a few events around his home city of Córdoba. His professional career began in 2012, and over the first decade of competition, he made his mark. Four wins on PGA Tour Latinoamérica came his way. In 2023, the Platense stepped up a level, winning a first Korn Ferry event, in the Tar Heel state.

The third playoff of June 4th was arranged when Fernández-Valdés and Trent Phillips tied for regulation supremacy at 13-deep. John Augenstein was a stroke back at minus-twelve, and accepted a third-place finish. JFV and Phillips returned to the 18th hole, and Phillips seized control with a drive to the fairway, while Fernández-Valdés found the rough. The Argentine gouged his approach to the green, and drained a massive putt for birdie. Phillips’ matching effort was away, and another winner from South America had joined the pantheon.

Playoff victory ???@jorgitoFV comes up clutch to win the 2023 @UNCHealthChamp. pic.twitter.com/uOVc1AI1fz

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) June 4, 2023

PGA Tour Latinoamérica @ Inter Rapidísimo: Myles travels many miles for trophy

Is there a cooler title sponsor than Inter Rapidísimo? So much fun to say. So much fun for Myles Creighton to win. The Canadian from tiny Digby, Nova Scotia, and tiny Radford University, found a home away from home this week, in Bogotá, Colombia. Challenges came from Austin Hitt and the best name in golf (Sandy Scott, and yes, he is from Scotland) but Creighton was up to the challenge.

Everyone trailed George Toone at the start of Sunday's final round, but the Englishman received the wrong roadmap for Sunday. His 78 relegated him to a tie for sixth position. Scott finished at 17-under par, to post the clubhouse lead. Next came the USA's Austin Hitt, whose 69 was fine, but not fine enough. He had started the day equal with Creighton, and when the down-easter posted 68, the tournament was his.

Myles Creighton ?? estuvo a punto de embocar para birdie en el hoyo 72, pero el par le bastó para imponerse por uno con total de -19 en @clubelrincon.@Myles11 came this close to making birdie at the last, but the par was enough for him to lock the title in Colombia. ??? pic.twitter.com/7LZBiUUzOb

— PGATOURLA (@PGATOURLA) June 4, 2023

WOTW: Viktor Hovland's Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore "Indigo"

Morning 9: Rory: Players could skip majors | Why Jack wore Sunday yellow | Memorial photos

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

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In a surprise announcement Tuesday, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have agreed to a merger.

From a joint PGA Tour, DP World Tour release: "The parties have signed an agreement that combines PIF's golf-related commercial businesses and rights (including LIV Golf) with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity…"

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund-backed LIV and the PGA Tour have been enmeshed in months of litigation, all of which will now end, according to the release. Additionally, players who departed the PGA and DP World Tours for LIV will be offered a "fair and objective process…to re-apply for membership."

The DP World Tour is also included in the agreement. All parties will combine commercial and business rights in a yet-to-be-named for-profit company.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is scheduled to meet with players — who were sent a memo Tuesday morning — at the RBC Canadian Open.

This is a developing story.

The PGA Tour's full statement is below.

"The PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) today announced a landmark agreement to unify the game of golf, on a global basis. The parties have signed an agreement that combines PIF's golf-related commercial businesses and rights (including LIV Golf) with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from a model that delivers maximum excitement and competition among the game's best players.

"In addition, PIF will make a capital investment into the new entity to facilitate its growth and success. The new entity (name TBD) will implement a plan to grow these combined commercial businesses, drive greater fan engagement and accelerate growth initiatives already underway. With LIV Golf in the midst of its second, groundbreaking season, the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and PIF will work together to best feature and grow team golf going forward.

"Notably, today's announcement will be followed by a mutually agreed end to all pending litigation between the participating parties. Further, the three organizations will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for membership with the PGA TOUR or the DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season and for determining fair criteria and terms of re-admission, consistent with each Tour's policies.

"After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love," said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. "This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR's history, legacy and pro-competitive model and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV – including the team golf concept – to create an organization that will benefit golf's players, commercial and charitable partners and fans. Going forward, fans can be confident that we will, collectively, deliver on the promise we’ve always made – to promote competition of the best in professional golf and that we are committed to securing and driving the game's future.

"We are pleased to move forward, in step with LIV and PIF's world-class investing experience, and I applaud PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan for his vision and collaborative and forward-thinking approach that is not just a solution to the rift in our game, but also a commitment to taking it to new heights. This will engender a new era in global golf, for the better."

"Today is a very exciting day for this special game and the people it touches around the world," said PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. "We are proud to partner with the PGA TOUR to leverage PIF's unparalleled success and track record of unlocking value and bringing innovation and global best practices to business and sectors worldwide. We are committed to unifying, promoting and growing the game of golf around the world and offering the highest-quality product to the many millions of long-time fans globally, while cultivating new fans.

"There is no question that the LIV model has been positively transformative for golf. We believe there are opportunities for the game to evolve while also maintaining its storied history and tradition. This partnership represents the best opportunity to extend and increase the impact of golf for all. We look forward to collaborating with Jay and Keith to bring the best version of the game to communities around the world."

"Under the terms of the agreement, the Board of Directors of the new entity will oversee and direct all the new entity's golf-related commercial operations, businesses and investments. The new entity will work to ensure a cohesive schedule of events that will be exciting for fans, sponsors and all stakeholders. PIF will initially be the exclusive investor in the new entity, alongside the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour. Going forward, PIF will have the exclusive right to further invest in the new entity, including a right of first refusal on any capital that may be invested in the new entity, including into the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and DP World Tour. The PGA TOUR will appoint a majority of the Board and hold a majority voting interest in the combined entity.

"Separately, PGA TOUR Inc. will remain in place as a 501(c)(6) tax exempt organization and retains administrative oversight of events for those assets contributed by the PGA TOUR, including the sanctioning of events, the administration of the competition and rules, as well as all other "inside the ropes" responsibilities, with Jay Monahan as Commissioner and Ed Herlihy as PGA TOUR Policy Board Chairman. PIF's Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will join the PGA TOUR Policy Board. The DP World Tour and LIV Golf will retain similar administrative oversight of events on their respective Tours.

"The Board of Directors of the new commercial entity will include Al-Rumayyan as Chairman and Monahan as Chief Executive Officer; the new entity's Board will also include an Executive Committee comprising Al-Rumayyan, Monahan, Herlihy and PGA TOUR Policy Board member Jimmy Dunne. The full Board will be announced at a later date, and it is anticipated that all three founding members will have representation.

"Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said "This is a momentous day. We are delighted to be able to not only reignite our relationship with PIF, but also to have the opportunity to build on our current Strategic Alliance partnership with the PGA TOUR. Together we will be stronger than ever and well positioned to continue to bring the game to all corners of the globe. To partner in this new entity and influence the growth of the game for all our DP World Tour members is energizing and exciting."

"All parties will work in the months to come to finalize terms of the agreement, with details to be announced in due course."

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Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up for the Canadian Open.

Our Matt Vincenzi… "With a growing number of non-exempt LIV golfers quickly falling down the Official World Golf Rankings, many were forced to try and qualify for the U.S. Open through local qualifying.

ESPN Report…"Michael Block, the teaching pro who finished tied for 15th at last month's PGA Championship, came up short in his bid to qualify for next week's U.S. Open."

Reuters report…"Less than 24 hours after securing the biggest win of his PGA Tour career, Norwegian world No. 5 Viktor Hovland is caddying Monday for a former college teammate who is looking to secure a spot in next week's U.S. Open."

Golfweek's Beth Ann Nichols…"The LPGA has been desperate for a moment like this. There hasn't been a player on the LPGA with the potential to move the needle in the United States like Rose Zhang since a prodigious Michelle Wie West."

Golf Channel's Brantley Romine…."The whole day, people kept asking me what my [future] plans were," Biondi said, "and I couldn't answer them because I didn't even know."

Our Jason Daniels…"In reply, a parody account for the convicted former CEO of Enron, got involved in the gambling debate."

Douglas MacKinnon for the Palm Beach Daily News…"That stated, let's turn our attention to the People's Republic of China and its multi-multi-million-dollar partnerships – such as the past winter Olympics – with NBC Sports. The same company that owns the Golf Channel."

Mike Hall for Golf Monthly…"Woods didn't just win last week's Major Championship at Village Golf Course in Florida, he cruised to the title by an incredible eight shots over its 36 holes. Woods’ opening round 72 included four birdies and the following day, he performed even better, with five birdies in his round of 71 to finish far ahead of closest competitor Noah Manly."

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Last week, four lucky GolfWRX members visited Fujikura Headquarters in Carlsbad, California, to meet Fujikura's team of product experts, learn about how VeloCore benefits the golfer throughout the bag, and get fit into Ventus woods and Axiom irons. The four WRXers — @Puppetmaster, @hammergolf, @CactusGolf, and @eric61 — enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience thanks to Fujikura.

hammergolf: "The Axiom feels different from any of the other graphite shafts I’ve played previously. They feel much more stable and maybe a touch stiffer than my current shafts, however, I ball speed, carry distance, launch, and spin with TIGHTER patterns. I’ve played them all, Steelfiber, Recoil, and now MMT. Hands down Axiom is better."

"My god are these good. We were hitting into the wind on the range so it was a really good test for the shafts. First thing I noticed is seeing a different peak height, and tighter pattern. I hit it side by side with my gamer (PXG Gen3XP MMT 70 R) I really liked my gamers before I hit Axiom. It's just on a different level. Because of the advantage of using Velocore, Fujikura can make a shaft do something that all others I’ve had can't. The Axiom is so stable yet helps me to launch the ball much higher, (my indoor testing showed almost 4* more launch) with more spin (indoor test showed me almost 900rpms more) and a much higher decent angle (indoor test showed almost 5* increase of decent). Well I saw all that with my own eyes outside yesterday. However, here's what crazy. I hit the Axiom side by side with my gamer. I was able to hit the Axiom higher, spin it more, and land it softer but it carried the same distance as my gamer. That was great, but here's what I’m still scratching my head about. It was an even tighter dispersion pattern… Side by side, the Axiom is much more stable and to me feels stiffer than the MMT. I just don't understand how something can feel more stable and stout, but deliver more launch, more spin, and not lose any distance. That's what Fujikura call Velocore. And it wasn't just me, I saw @Puppetmaster, @CactusGolf, and @eric61 all hitting great shots with Axiom. Another thing that amazed me was how four guys with 4 different swings and four different clubhead speeds can have the same great results. I think that's a testament to how Fujikura has designed 3 different weight and profiles to fit anyone.

"The one thing I haven't mentioned is feel. They have a great feel that is not mushy, but just the right amount of feedback, yet no unpleasant shock or vibration. In summary, Fujikura just flat out nailed it. If you’re thinking about switching, or have hand, wrist, shoulder pain, these are an absolute no brainer. Hands down the best performing shaft I’ve ever hit. Can't wait to get them built and in the bag!"

eric61: "The first thing I noticed is that the 75S is more stout than you’d think, and the 125X is more playable than you’d think. The way they’ve managed to separate weight and flex is really impressive.

"The next thing: Axioms for me launched pretty high with relatively high spin. (And not just the 105X that Andrew fitted me into — I found this to be true in the full range.) They didn't have an i230 fitting head, but I was hitting a P790 — Andrew measured my i230 at 34 degrees of loft and the P790 was at 31. The P790 with the Axiom 105X was going 9 yards further, as you’d expect given the loft and head design differences, but it was actually almost identical in terms of peak height and landing angle, and it was spinning only a couple hundred RPMs less than my i230s.

"I’m not really looking for more distance — my home course is 6,700 yards from the back tees, so I really just need control. And what I found in the Axiom 105X was significantly tighter dispersion.

"My swing speed would usually indicate I’m more of an S than an X. But Andrew noticed I looked like I was losing the club head a bit in transition with the 105S, and the 105X really tightened things up quite a lot for me.

"The other thing I liked about them is the profile. They are stout handle, softer mid, stout tip shafts."

"I think the Axiom shafts are going to pair really well with player's distance type irons, where they’ll allow you to get the ball speed and forgiveness those iron heads offer while gaining the height and spin to make them really playable. Lower-spin guys in players’ irons will also love them.

"The other thing I’ll say, for folks who haven't hit graphite iron shafts before, is that they really take the sting out of impact. This is the first time in a while where I’ve had absolutely no wrist pain after a round. And it doesn't come at the cost of the iron heads’ feel. The T100 I mentioned was still buttery soft."

Puppetmaster: "The Tour V, much like my driver post above, did not spin enough, even though to my eye, they still launched decently high. Andrew, who is a fantastic fitter btw, wanted me to get more spin and a steeper descent angle. The Axiom 105 did just that, with a tight dispersion, were easier to load and had the right amount of feel (yes, subjective) for my swing. I think Fujikura is pretty darn close to that holy grail of both stability and feel with the Axiom (and Ventus). The hardstep was to give me more of the firmer feel I wanted, without needing to go into the 105X, which was too much work for me given my transition characteristics.

"Also, I hit a few draws and cuts for giggles after the fitting with the 105S and was able to do that, at least, to the best of my limited ability.

"One more note – I tried the 75S and 125X too, I think all of us did. The 75 did not feel like a 75 gram, felt much more stable than the weight would suggest. The 125X was stout but didn't feel like a pipe. Definitely felt all of the 125 grams, but again, they’ve done a nice job of leaving enough feel in it even though it's stiff, heavy shaft."

eric61: "Just wanted to start by thanking all 24 employees at Fujikura's U.S. operation here in Carlsbad. Spencer, Eric, Marshall and Kelsi were super generous with their time and knowledge. Andrew Hoang was just terrific in our fittings for Axiom iron shafts and Ventus driver shafts.

"One particular highlight for me was the tour Spencer gave us of the behind-the-scenes stuff — showing us how a shaft is made in-house, from raw materials (thanks Kevin, who showed us how shafts are rolled and admitted the Axiom 125s are the toughest to make) to the paint job to shipping the shafts out."

CactusGolf: "This has been one of the best, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that I’ve ever had for a multitude of reasons! I want to make sure I think everyone at WRX and Fujikura for the opportunity. I was shocked to have been selected and unbelievably excited to dive in head-first into the fitting and product process."

Puppetmaster: "I just wanted to say again how awesome this was in terms of the experience, education, and the chance to sit around and dialog about shaft design, fittings, and everything else golf related. So much learning – from the design/prototyping process to the actual production to the fitting and everything else in between and beyond."

hammergolf: "First and foremost, thank you again to everyone at Fujikura for making us all feel at home. Spencer, Eric, Marshall, Kelsi, and Andrew were all incredible! The phrase is used too much, but these people and this company just get it. They are all dedicated to make the best product possible to help all golfers play their best golf. Fujikura are first class in every thing they do."

Head over to the thread for more comments, reviews, and future updates. Don't forget to become a member today for future opportunities like this, plus product member testing and giveaways!

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