We recap the last week on tour where the LPGA Tour was back in action, the LET headed to Korea and McIlroy made his mark ahead of the PGA Championship
Here's a look back on what happened on tour last week. We'll be sharing the winners, shots and moments of the week.
Winner's circle - week ending 12th May
Here's who won:
LPGA Tour - We're told that to grow the women's professional game fan base, we need good stories, stand-out performances and players that will transcend the sport. So whilst the story at the start of the week had focused on Nelly Korda, her Met Gala appearance and her chance of making six straight wins, by the end of the week we were back with arguably the second most talked about female golfer at present. Rose Zhang.
Korda may have played her way out of contention on Saturday with a one-over-par 73 and matched the score on Sunday to finish in a tie for seventh, but that did not mean that the final round was any less compelling to watch. In fact, it turned into a back nine shootout between Zhang and third round leader Madelene Sagstrom.
If only this battle hadn't coincided with Rory McIlroy putting on a masterclass at the Wells Fargo Championship on his way to claim his 26th PGA Tour victory, this exciting finale at the Cognizant Founders Cup would have had the eyeballs on it, that is so deserved.
Drama, excitement, nerves and some phenomenal play were all a golf fan could hope for, especially as the women's game strives for greater recognition and the crowning of new global stars. Read the full report here.
This week, the LPGA heads just 21 miles down the road to Liberty National Golf Club, where Zhang looks to defend her maiden title at the Mizuho Americas Open.
LET - The Aramco Team Series took it's first trip to Korea. The popular team event touched down in Seoul. After a rain delay pushed the finish of the second round into Sunday, it was Hyo-Joo Kim who lived up to her billing at the Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Korea as the home favourite put on a show to win by three shots.
Leading by two shots heading into the final round, the Major winner held off Charley Hull‘s Sunday surge carding a round of 68 (-4) to end the week on 10-under-par.
In the team competition, it was America's Danielle Kang and her team of England’s Lily May Humphreys, China’s Tian Xiaolin and amateur Kyu Ho Lee who combined to post a score of 23-under par and claim the title.
Read the full report here.
This week, the LET heads back over to Europe, to the Amundi German Masters at Golf & Country Club Seddiner See.
Epson Tour - Ruixin Liu picked up her seventh Epson Tour victory at the Carlisle Arizona Women's Golf Classic.
Experience reigned supreme during the final round in Scottsdale, Ariz. The field of 132 was cut down to 71 after Friday's round, and with conditions shifting on the weekend, Epson Tour veteran Ruixin Liu drew on all of her past experience to eventually come out on top and win her second career Carlisle Arizona Women's Golf Championship by three shots.
"It feels very special because I never won any events two times. And, you know, for me to win this before the U.S. Women's Open and to have the biggest purse ever in Epson Tour history, it just feels amazing," said Liu. "It is a big boost of confidence because I didn't have a great year last year on the LPGA, and you know, to be able to come back out here and just to win, I just feel very good about my game right now, you know, to shoot 64 seven-under twice in four days, it really means something."
The Epson Tour heads to Hurricane, Utah, for the Copper Rock Championship. The tournament begins on Thursday, May 16th and concludes on Saturday, May 18th.
Men's professional tour results
PGA Tour - There is no denying that when Rory McIlroy is on form, there is no stopping him and that was the case during the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship. Whilst Rose Zhang and Madelene Sagstrom where battling down the back nine, focus was very much on McIlroy. Like in the LPGA event, it seemed to be a two horse race between McIlroy and Xander Schauffele, but in this case it was the Irishman who took control.
The 35-year-old kicked into drive on the 8th hole and didn't look back going - birdie, birdie, eagle, par, par, birdie, birdie, eagle - a phenomenal eagle from the bunker on 15. Even a ball in the water and a double on the last couldn't stop McIlroy from winning his fourth Wells Fargo Championship and his 26th PGA Tour victory at 17-under-par, five shots ahead of Schauffele.
"I just went on a run that just, for whatever reason, I am able to go on at this golf course."
The PGA Tour also had the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic, which was won by Chris Gotterup who closed with a four-under-par 67 for a six-shot victory at Dunes Golf & Beach Club. This was his first PGA Tour title.
This week it's all about the PGA Championship at Valhalla, and there is no doubt that excitement levels will be high around Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka looks to defend his title.
Shot of the week
Personally, Rose Zhang's putt on the final hole has to be up there as one of the shots of the week. Holding her nerve to sink it and claim her second LPGA victory by two shots. But I am giving the shot of the week to Rory, his charge on Sunday was quite unbelievable and this hole-out eagle from the bunker of 15 is a shot to give you goosebumps...
Moment of the week
The significance of this week on the LPGA Tour is often lost amongst the wider golf community. But it is a really important time to acknowledge the vision that the original founders of the LPGA Tour had. Those remaining, have a prime viewing point on the 18th green and players walk past them as they finish their rounds.
After winning on Sunday, Rose Zhang summed up perfectly what many professional women golfers feel about the original LPGA founders...
This week it's going to be hard to see past the PGA Championship as the men's second Major of the year kicks off on Thursday. It certainly looks like it will be billed as a PGA Tour (Rory) versus LIV Golf (Brooks) battle.
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