For those who follow professional golf to its truest level, Sunday was an emotional day. The DP World Tour was cancelled for a second consecutive day, constricting its finish to 54 holes at best. Five golfers vied for a PGA Tour title, including a fellow who could not find a fairway on Sunday, no matter how hard he tried. On each tee where his caddy handed over the driver, we winced, waited, wondered, and wept. The most gut-wrenching result, however, took place on the Korn Ferry Tour, yet it did not involve the champion nor the chasers. At stake was a PGA Tour card for 2023-2024, and at fault, one of the nuances of the rules of golf. If you’ve the soul for it, we have a rundown of all five tournaments that reached resolution, and we’re happy to provide it for you.

In fact, let’s start with some good news, before the gut-wrenching stuff!

Genuinely can't think of a better way to start your maternity leave ?@Lindseykweaver is winning at life ? pic.twitter.com/yYXACHHzUV

— LPGA (@LPGA) October 8, 2023

Korn Ferry Tour @ Tour Championship: Barjon bellows while Tuten totters

Paul Barjon began the fourth round in a tie with Josh Teater for the lead of the final Korn Ferry Championship to be played at Victoria National. Next year, it moves across state to the Pete Dye course at French Lick Resort. While Teater teetered, Barjon was resolute, posting a 68 for a three-shot win over Fabian Gomez of Argentina. The victory was his second of the campaign,

It was all bad news for Teater. He held on to a tie for fifth place, which was enough to move him inside the top 30 and guarantee a PGA Tour Card for next season. Gomez wasn’t so fortunate. He needed a win to ascend, and outplayed everyone but the champion on day four. Gomez was perfect on the day, with five birdies and zero bogeys on the card. Needing three more to tie, he might look back at the three par-five holes that he didn’t birdie, but what’s the use in that?

The heart-rending moment of the day came at the hands of Shad Tuten. Apparently finished at three-under par and a top-twenty finish, Tuten also had the final Tour Card in his grasp. Then came the rules officials, to discuss the place part of lift, clean, and place. On the 15th hole, Tuten had placed his ball properly. It moved forward, so he replaced it to the side. That was the rub. The ROG (rules of golf) demand that he attempt to place it one more time, before finding the closest possible area. With that miscue came a two-shot penalty, a drop to minus-one and t28, and a return to the KFT in 2024. Golf, simply, can be cruel.

Two-time winner this season!@paul_barjon secures another win @tourchampulf to move up 37 spots and INSIDE the top 30. #TOURBound | @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/WEdj2JIbvW

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) October 8, 2023

DP World Tour @ Dunhill

There could not have been a zanier finish, than the one that took place in the Kingdom of Fife this week. The first two rounds went off as planned, but there was weather in the offing. Round three was postponed to Sunday, and then again, until Monday. Even links courses can hold just so much water. With uncertainty all around, the third rounds at Kingsbarns and St. Andrews were slated to tee off consecutively, while Carnoustie would see a shotgun start. Keeping up, are you?

Matthew Southgate grabbed the lead from Ryder Cupper Matt Fitzpatrick for a time, but then Fitzy grabbed it back from fellow Englishman Southgate, and reached 20-under par. Southgate ended in a second-place tie at -16. As Fitzpatrick was tapping in his final putt at St. Andrews Old, Marcus Armitage was moving past the turn at the Carnoustie shotgun. Hearken back, if you will, to the 1950s, when the leaders didn’t necessarily go off in the final group. Armitage reached 17-under with three to play, but he settled at 16-deep, to join Southgate and Ryan Fox in the crowded, second spot on the podium.

After his inconsistent performance at Marco Simone, Fitzpatrick had to feel good about returning to victory, so soon after.

A birdie finish for @MattFitz94 ?

He holds a three-shot lead in the clubhouse at -19. #dunhilllinks pic.twitter.com/uuzqkOrUV3

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 9, 2023

LPGA @ The Ascendant: Hyo Joo finds fortune in Texas

It’s not fair to say that no one else stood a chance, but this span always seemed destined to be Hyo Joo’s week. The Korean champion posted 64 on day one, that had Sofia Garcia shaking her head, even after the Paraguayan signed for a 66 of her own. Kim followed up with a 68, and Garcia matched her to remain close. Round three saw separation, where the inexperience of Garcia culminated in a 76 and an ultimate drop to t16 on the week. Kim was determined, and preserved a lead over more-seasoned competitors like Lexi Thompson and Sarah Kemp.

On day four, it was two younger challengers that rose to meet Kim. Bianca Pagdanganan of Phillipines and Atthaya Thitikul from Thailand each posted 65 to surge up the board. Those numbers brought them to a second-place tie at nine-under par, one shot clear of Sarah Kemp. Holding steady at the ship’s helm was Kim, who followed her Saturday 70 with a Sunday 69. She reached 13-deep, and claimed a four-shot win for her sixth LPGA victory, and first since April of 2022.

The SUSPENSE ??

This putt had Hyo Joo Kim on the edge of her seat ? pic.twitter.com/7XENubGPDE

— LPGA (@LPGA) October 8, 2023

PGA Tour @ Sanderson Farms: Five Guys play off for title

When the Korn Ferry Tour rules issue unfolded, Rafael Campos was the unwitting winner, as he claimed the PGA Tour card that Tuten lost. Imagine being a guy like Ludvig Aberg, fresh off a Ryder Cup debut, making enough birdies and eagles to reach -18, knowing that it won’t be enough. Or Henrik Norlander, who made two bogeys in his final five holes, to reach the same figure. Or Scott Stallings, or Luke List. All of those fellows imagined that Ben Griffin was in command, and would win in regulation.

What they didn’t know, was that Griffin was in the midst of the worst driving day of his life. The UNC alum had his irons dialed and his putter smoking, but that big club was finding spots that were unmappable by Google or Bing. Despite a pair of birdies on the inward half, Griffin had a trio of bogeys, including one at the last. He closed with 74 and dropped to … you guessed it … 18-under par.

Away did the quintet return to the final tee at the Country Club of Jackson. Unbeknownst to the other four competitors, Luke List had manifested this win a few weeks back. He confided to his wife that he had a feeling, and that he would win during the Fall stretch. Away he went to a 45-feet putt for birdie, and didn’t he drain it for the walk-off win. That’s some story.

The mural is complete ?? https://t.co/BJrKUorltT pic.twitter.com/GuXBTgguzh

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 9, 2023

PGA Tour Champions @ Furyk&Friends: Quigley claims second Champions title

Brett Quigley is the epitome of a tour grinder. He has always had those dashing looks, which often gave folks pause when assessing his desire. Quigley never won on the PGA Tour, although he did have a pair of Korn Ferry titles on his resume. When he hit the golden 50, Quigley won in Morocco, proving that he could win on the senior circuit. Three years later, the Massachusetts native has another win to his credit.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Brett on Sunday. Fellow New Englander Billy Andrade closed within one, before a rough stretch at the end dropped him to a tie for sixth. Jerry Kelly was in the mix, as was Ernie Els, but neither one mounted enough of a threat to worry the leader. In the end, it was the senior surge, Steven Alker, who provided the greatest threat. The Kiwi played the final nine holes in minus-three, to reach ten deep. He could not summon one more birdie over his final three holes, and was destined for solo second.

Quigley looked to be in the clear, until a double bogey at the 14th dropped him to 11-under par. Calling on all his faculties, he parred out to eke out the win over Alker. If there was one person who might have been move moved than Quigley, it was his caddy, Nick Hunter. Here’s why.

Nick Hunter has been caddying for 38 years.

He finally got his first win today ?? ? pic.twitter.com/idz0reBywd

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) October 9, 2023