This week was the start of the golden season for American leaves. There were fireworks of orange, red and gold covering all kinds of trees in their fall glory. Golf reminded us about the extended seasons all over the globe, even into November. Over the seven-day period, four events were held in Korea, Carolina, Spain, and Virginia. The number of tournaments that remain drops as the leaves fall. We may be lucky and the competitors will give us unforgettable moments until the snowflakes arrive. Let’s get into this week’s Tour Rundown, with a little Autumn enthusiasm.
PGA Tour CJ Cup Rides off with Rory
Rory and the McIlroys have an excellent chance of officially scouting land in South Carolina’s Low Country. The employment opportunities are what make seafood boils so appealing. The pride of Holywood Golf Club won Congaree for the second year in succession, even though the old/new world number one chose to be a little dramatic.
Jon Rahm and Kurt Kitayama led the 36-hole race at 11-under-par, with McIlroy just one shot behind. The 2021 PGA Championship was held at Kiawah Island on Saturday. McIlroy made a comeback with a second consecutive 66. Roars played almost flawless golf through 16 holes on Sunday, with nothing certain. He had seven birdies to one bogey, giving him a three shot advantage with only two holes left. His drive hit a waste bunker on the penultimate hole. This was his second bogey for the day. A less-than-stellar approach to the final hole left him at 50 feet for birdie. McIlroy, who was not willing to risk a week of hard work, eased into the hole with three putts and won by Kitayama. K.H. Lee of South Korea was third at 15-under par
Leader by 2 with 3 to go @McIlroyRory goes up-and-down for birdie at 15. pic.twitter.com/YDq4V64QEo
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR October 23, 2022
LPGA: BMW Ladies Championship To Ko in hot fashion
Atthaya Thitikul started the week in a stunning fashion. Amateur Minsol Kim was just one shot ahead of Atthaya Thitikul’s nine-under-63. Amateur Minsol Kim would tie for tenth place, earning her the respect of her fellow competitors. Thitikul held the lead until Sunday when she lost her game and closed with 74. Thitikul’s departure opened up the doors to a number of challengers. A familiar name was the one who closed the door.
Lydia Ko went through some tough years after securing 14 tour wins over a span of four years last decade. She has won three times in the last two seasons. The latest victory was this week in Korea. Round four was started by Ko and Andrea Lee, one shot behind Thitikul. Ko brought back the memories of how close she was once. Lee was unable to win the final-round 31. Ko’s five birdies allowed her to take control and win her 18th LPGA title. Lee’s final round 69 could have won the event on another day, but Ko was in great form and Lee finished second.
Korea: Victory! ? ?
You can see Lydia Ko’s highlights from round one of the BMW Ladies Championship! pic.twitter.com/2lVsbVfSGh
LPGA (@LPGA October 23, 2022
DP World Tour to Mallorca: A milestone for Paul
How do you top a three-birdie and three-eagle Saturday? You have the 54-hole lead with a score of 62. It’s nothing spectacular, but it is good enough golf to win your first DP World Tour title. Yannick Paul, from Germany, had been ranked in the top ten at Madrid and Paris in recent starts so he may have known that he had a chance at a title. He seized the opportunity to win the title in Mallorca, an island off Spain’s eastern coast.
It is not easy to win, and it is never easy to comprehend. Paul was left with a lead and a burden after rounds 64 and 62. Sunday started as it does for non-winners: the game that took him to 71 on Thursday threatened to end his title hopes. He was turned by bogeys at one, seven and 11, but birdies at eighteen and eleven stabilized his flight pattern. Paul Waring and Nicolai von Dellinghausen would eventually tie for second at 14 under par. Paul made another pair at 14 and 15 to try to break free of his title.
Yannick Paul managed to persuade his 18th-century approach to be a positive one, despite everything at stake. For him, the rest is history. Take a look at the video below.
The moment @YannikPaul became a DP World Tour winner ?#MallorcaGolfOpen pic.twitter.com/e4U3F26ma9
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour October 23, 2022
PGA Tour Champions – Dominion Energy Classic Alker’s fourth appearance in 2022
It’s a mild slump when you lose your last three wins, including a major, in April and May. Although some enthusiasts may be mistaken for thinking so, it is not true. Professionals in Toruing know that greatness can vanish at any moment. Success might just be one adjustment away. Steven Alker worked hard for his dream, but only won enough on regular tours to make it a reality. He plans to keep his second chance at glory on the PGA Tour Champions.
Alker was able to see well in Richmond, Virginia. Jerry Kelly, however, seemed determined to take it. Kelly started the week with 65-67 and posted a birdie on Sunday’s first hole. The engine was stalled by an unexpected double at the par-3 fourth. After a pair of birdies against another bogey, the engine was unable to continue. However, when Alker scores four consecutive birdies on his inward half, it is not your day. Kelly finished third behind K.J. in a tie with Doug Barron, Padraig Harrington and Padraig Harrington. Choi was two back of Alker who won the fourth year-end title.
Alker relaxed a little after signing the cards. Moments like these, when you win, are very manageable.
Steven Alker’s first mistake of the year was? pic.twitter.com/2XovoGZzrj
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour), October 24, 2022
