You’d hardly know that it was the end of August, with all the golf being played. We’ve got PGA Tour playoffs, Solheim and Ryder Cups on the horizon, and a full slate of events on the world’s major tours. As the eighth month of 2021 draws to a close, we’ve a bit of time to present another installment of Tour Rundown. It was an exciting week, filled with unexpected champions, so let’s not waste another moment.

USGA: Curtis Cup remains in USA hands

For a time, Great Britain & Ireland held a lead over the USA, and the world turned upside down a bit. Perhaps it was the home cooking at Conwy in Wales, but that 4.5-1.5 advantage after day one had the local folks smiling. It didn’t last, sadly, but it was a wonderful start to the competition. On day two, the powerful USA side did a 4.5-1.5 number of its own, and the biennial matches came down to the day-three singles. On Saturday, the American side surged and dominated the singles matches by a 6.5-1.5 margin, which led to a five-point victory. Rose Zhang of the Americans turned in the only undefeated performance on the week, losing just a half-point on day one. The two sides will reunite in 2022 at Merion Golf Club, in Pennsylvania. After the 2020 matches were postponed until this year, the R&A and the USGA agreed to return to an even-year slate of challenges.

Captain Sarah Ingram lifts the #CurtisCup trophy with Rachel Kuehn ?? pic.twitter.com/VDFSAlEgRH

— The Curtis Cup (@CurtisCup) August 28, 2021

PGA Tour: BMW Championship ends in six-hole playoff

Bryson DeChambeau came within inches of a 59 on Friday. On Sunday, he came within inches of a win in regulation but made bogey at the last. With that misstep, he and Patrick Cantlay headed into a playoff to determine the winner of the second FedEx Cup Playoff event of 2021. The pair matched pars over the first four holes, then did the same with birdie at the fifth. When Cantlay dropped a birdie at the sixth playoff hole, DeChambeau had no answer, and the battle of California Kids went to Cantlay. One thing is for certain: if he goes extra holes, bet on Cantlay. Four of his five PGA Tour titles have come in extra holes. Both DeChambeau and Cantlay will feature on the USA Ryder Cup side next month, as the Americans attempt to reclaim the treasured trophy that once made a near-constant home on this side of the Atlantic.

A playoff for the ages.@Patrick_Cantlay is victorious on the 6th playoff hole @BMWChamps.

(presented by @SuperStrokeGolf) pic.twitter.com/J6vthYBuWG

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 29, 2021

Korn Ferry Tour: Nationwide Children’s Hospital trophy heads north of the US border

Vincent Whaley and Stephan Jaeger entered the final round in a first-place tie but, the way this weekend went, an overnight lead meant nothing. Whaley posted plus-1 on day four and dropped three spots, while Jaeger’s even par was good for a tie for second, but nothing more. Bronson Burgoon posted minus-5 on Sunday to jump up a quintet of places, but it was only good for a tie with Jaeger. The big winner (and, truly, the only winner) on Sunday was Canada’s Adam Svensson. The former Barry University golfer was four-under on the day and, despite a one-over 36 on the inward half, escaped with a one-shot victory.

.@adamsvensson59 began the day two back @NCHC_Golf …

After a 5-under front nine, he was in the driver's seat. pic.twitter.com/9l5VNMNe35

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 29, 2021

PGA Tour Champions: The Ally Challenge features a surprise titleist

Under Bernhard Langer in the reference book, see GB&I Curtis Cup side, Whaley, Vincent and Jaeger, Stephan. The German champion began the week with an age-matching 64, and ended it with a one-shot loss to a resurgent Joe Durant. Langer was in the driver’s seat after eight holes, but played the final ten in even par. Durant was five under on the day and held a two-shot lead on the final tee. The four-time PGA Tour winner played it safe at the last, closing with bogey for a one-shot advantage. Actually, safe isn’t the proper word. Durant struggled to close the deal, but rolled his yellow golf ball into the jaws of the hole from ten feet at the 54th hole to cement the victory. With the win, Durant earned a fourth Champions Tour win to match his regular-tour tally.

Ice in his veins. ??@JoeDurant6's putt to win the @AllyChallenge. pic.twitter.com/Ejj3ziNN4h

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 29, 2021

European Tour: European Masters ends in tasty Danish

After American Sean Crocker stumbled to an even-par 70 and a fourth-place tie, the lane was open for anyone to make a run at the 2021 title. First came Henrik Stenson, who managed five birdies on the outward half, but cooled to just two on the inward side, for 63 and -11. Next came Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, whose day was progressing marvelously at seven-under through 14 holes. He made an unthinkable bogey at the next, but followed it with a birdie at 16. Inexplicably, Wiesberger made double at the last, to fall from 14-deep to 12-under par. With that fissure, the barn door lay wide open for Rasmus Højgaard. The Great Dane kept a clean card on day four and closed 5 under over his final six holes. Højgaard matched Stenson’s 63, emerging the unlikely winner of his third European Tour event in three seasons.

Rasmus Højgaard sets the clubhouse lead ??#OEM2021 pic.twitter.com/Fpvq1UOyVf

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) August 29, 2021

LPGA: Senior LPGA Championship finds an English home

The week prior to the Solheim Cup was a quiet one for the regular tour, so leave it to the senior champions to put on a show. Despite 18 American names in the top 21 spots, the championship came down to an Englishwoman and a Welshlady. On day one, England’s Trish Johnson took a one-shot advantage over Becky Morgan of Wales. On day two, the entire field struggled, with 71 being the low tally. Johnson and Morgan matched 73s and ventured into the final round with a one-stroke degree of separation. Morgan took the lead through seven holes, but couldn’t hold on. Her topsy-turvy inward half of 37 returned the lead to Johnson, who held on for a 69 and a one-shot victory.

A day to remember for Trish Johnson ?@SeniorLPGA pic.twitter.com/UZNR1lOXfs

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 29, 2021