Long before the term vibe became standard in the lexicon of multiple generations, South Carolina’s low country essentially owned the rights to its essence. Imagine being the tournament that follows the first major of the year, and that major just happens to be the Masters. The week actually opens on Masters Sunday, when the band formerly known as Hootie and the Blowfish hosts the Monday After The Masters pro-am event in Myrtle Beach. On its heels comes the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, a bit farther south in the Palmetto state. Both events have a calm to their demeanor, and they allow golf fans and competitors to segue from the intensity of a Grand Slam event to a sequence of tour events. In their honor, we should call this week’s installment Tour Strolldown. Let’s take a stroll and recap the week’s professional golf.

PGA Tour: The Return of Spieth

The freeze of Patty Ice melted a bit for the second time this season. After Scottie Scheffler defeated the 2021 Team USA hero in extra holes in Phoenix, it was Jordan Spieth’s turn this week in Harbor Town. Seven golfers, including first-round leader Cameron Young, finished the week at 12-under par. Only Spieth and Cantlay were able to reach 13-deep, and the two headed off to the 18th tee at Pete Dye’s Low-Country masterpiece to settle matters.

Both golfers found greenside sand on the monstrous par-four hole, but Cantlay’s lie was the stuff of nightmares. Impossibly plugged, he was unable to get the ball up and in for par. Spieth drew a better lie, and succeeded in exploding out and near for a tap-in four. The quick end to the overtime session was Spieth’s 13th on tour and first since Valero, a year ago.

More bunker brilliance by @JordanSpieth in a playoff.

This approach on the first playoff hole sealed the victory @RBC_Heritage. pic.twitter.com/ghI8arP11P

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 17, 2022

LPGA Tour: LOTTE Championship to Hyo-joo by two

A week in paradise, along Ewa Beach in Oahu, Hawaii, proved doubly-so for Hyo-joo Kim. The 2014 Evian champion won her second tournament in the past year, this time over Japan’s Hinako Shibuno. The tournament seemed destined to finish with Kim at the head of the podium. She sat second with five others to Hannah Green’s opening 66. While the others fell far away, Kim followed with another 67 in round two, to take command. The final two rounds were a case of hold on against the winds. Hyo-joo closed with 72-71 to reach 11-under par. Only Shibuno was able to keep her in sight.

Kim and Shibuno played conservative golf on day four. Shibuno had two birdies against 16 pars for 70. Kim had three birdies against two bogeys for 71, enough to preserve a comfortable margin of advantage. The most exciting golfer on course on Sunday was Somi Lee. She tossed four birdies at the scorecard, but the course bit back with five bogeys. Lee finished in solo fifth, six behind the champion, despite her brave run.

What a win for Hyo Joo Kim at the @LPGALOTTE! ? pic.twitter.com/WyaXNMNA7R

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 17, 2022

Korn Ferry Tour’s Veritex Bank trophy on Tyson’s shelf

Tyson Alexander’s goal, like that of every Korn Ferry competitor, is to leave that tour behind for the PGA Tour and its series of events. Should he get there, Alexander might want to make room in his schedule each year for a return to Arlington, Texas. The former UFlorida golfer has won the Veritex Bank event there for two consecutive years, and certainly feels at home on the Texas Rangers golf club course.

MJ Daffue opened the week with 62 for a two-shot lead. He could not preserve that level of play, and ultimately finished in a tie for 26th place. Alexander sat three behind on day one, after an opening 65. He followed with 66 and remained inside the top five overall. Another 66 on Saturday brought him to third position, and the stage for a Sunday gunslinger’s battle was set.

Third-round leader Chase Parker had all sorts of trouble with the outward nine, and tumbled to a tie for 12th spot. Alexander went out in four-under 32, and added two more birdies coming home for 65. He reached 22-under par, with Pontus Nyholm and Byeong Hun-an two back, in second place.Nyholm was the story of the day, with twin 31s for 62. Only a bogey at the 71st hole kept him from making a last-ditch run at Alexander.

With the win, Alexander became the first player in the nearly 30-year of the Korn Ferry Tour to defend his title. It’s nice to be first, twice in one weekend.

Everything you need to know from the final round of @VBChampionship. pic.twitter.com/GURyMXzViU

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 17, 2022

Asian Tour: Sihwan Kim wins in Stableford style in Thailand

The Asian Tour took a break from medal play for a week, and Sihwan Kim took full advantage. Kim absolutely lit up the Siam country club course on days one and three, garnering 22 points each day. Days two and four weren’t nearly as productive, coming in at -2 and +7. Those five points ultimately gave him a two-point advantage over Maja Stark, and his second tour title in five weeks.

What made the event compelling was the mixed format. Maja Stark plays regularly on the Ladies European Tour, and this event brought male and female golfers together in competition. The final round was delayed for 90 minutes by rain, and the players returned to the course with enough light to complete the final round on schedule.

Celebrating the Songkran festival in style ???

Win #2 in the bag for Sihwan Kim ?? #TrustGolfAsianMixedStablefordChallenge #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/CCbi4x1LJp

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) April 16, 2022