If you didn’t love golf this week, you’ll never love golf. Jake Knapp fired up the engine with a 12-under par 59 on Thursday, at the US PGA Tour. Dale Whitnell had a pair of aces in round two of the rain-shortened South African Open, and he wasn’t even low man on the day. Justin Suh ripped a 60 in round three of the Argentina Open on the Korn Ferry Tour. Of the three, only Suh was able to hold on for a victory, which meant that someones were playing interstellar golf. It’s beginning to feel like golf season now, at least in the professional ranks. Around the globe, the northern hemisphere salivates at the approaching warm weather. All those signs mean that it’s time for another Tour Rundown, so why keep you waiting?

PGA Tour @ Cognizant Classic: A cup of Joe got the job done in the Palm Beaches

While the world drooled at Jake Knapp’s moustache, languid swing, and massive distance, a guy named Joe snuck over the cut line, then into contention, then onto the top of the podium. Jake Knapp got our attention with a day-one 59 last week, and he held the lead with 18 holes to play. Sunday wasn’t as kind as he had hoped, and Knapp slipped away to a tie for sixth spot, four shots from victory.

Knapp’s struggles made room for a series of men with J as the first letter of the names. JJ Spaun took a run at the top, closing 67-66 on the weekend to tie for runner-up. With whom? Well, Jacob Bridgeman finished even better, with 67-64 over the final 36, for a best-ever finish on the big tour. They and the rest of the field could only marvel at the work of Joe Highsmith. Highsmith made a five-foot, sliding putt on his 36th green, to make the cut on the number. The Pepperdine alum turned a page and 13 birdies and an eagle on the weekend, against just one bogey. His 64-64 finish rocketed the former Wave golfer to his first tour title amid the most unlikely circumstances.

LPGA @ HSBC Women’s World: Yo, It’s Ko!

Dame Lydia Ko…that sounds regal. Damed by New Zealand this year, she is the youngest to receive the honor in history. We’ve known for over a decade how great she is, and 2024 put the final brush strokes on the masterpiece. Gold medal at the Olympics, Hall of Fame admission on the LPGA, and now, Lydia is simply coasting. This week, she held off generation next and claimed tour title number thirty-one in Singapore.

Ko held a one-shot advantage over Charley Hull through 54 holes, with Jeeno Thitikul next in line. On Sunday, Ko the Kiwi etched five birdies onto a minus-three scorecard. The day’s low was minus five, and it didn’t come from Hull. Elementary math tells us that Ko held on for victory. Closing well was Ayaka Furue, who posted 68 to tie Thitikul for second position. Both finished four shots behind the winner, at nine under par. 2025 looks to be a season in which the front-runner’s last name begins with the letter K and O. Lydia hopes that the conversation centers around her.

DP World Tour @ South African Open: Homebred Naidoo wins in playoff

Much like penalty kicks in soccer, the notion of a weather-shortened event is the bane for many in golf. This week in Durban, Nature spoke loudly on Sunday, and officials were forced to revert to Saturday’s standings for a resolution. South Africa’s Dylan Naidoo and the “It” guy from England, Laurie Canter, sat atop the leader’s board at 14-under par. One shot behind them was Marco Penge. The latter would look back at a missed birdie on the short 18th, but certainly could not be disappointed with solo third.

Away went Naidoo and Canter to that same golf hole, to settle matters, just past 3 p.m local time. Canter hoped to secure win number two on the year, while Naidoo sought a breakthrough victory. Resolution didn’t take long. Canter found the green, 15 feet from the hole, but could not convert for three. Naidoo massaged his approach to inside five feet, and calmly made birdie to win a first Tour title and one for the home fans.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Argentina Open: S’up, Suh?

Justin Suh, of the San Jose Suhs, claimed his second career Korn Ferry Tour title in Argentina. He did so in electrifying fashion, posting 60-65 on the weekend, to win by five over a trio of chasers. Suh stumbled three times this week, for bogey. He made a pair of eagles, and 22 birdies, reach 23 under par. He briefly lost the lead on Friday evening, as eventual co runner-up Cole Sherwood followed his 67 with 64 to gain a one-shot advantage. Also in the mix were S.H. Kim and Ryan Blaum, one behind Suh.

Saturday’s fireworks included eight birdies and an eagle from the California kid, as he surged past Sherwood, to the top. Sherwood must have felt pretty good about his day-three 64, until he saw Suh’s 60 scorecard. Sunday heard a bit of noise, as a few golfers reached three- and four-under par on the front nine, but no one made a move on the leader. After turning in minus-one, Suh chased down four more birdies coming home, to seal the deal and lift the trophy.

TGL @ Week Eight: Bay says Bye to Jupiter

We’ve learned that hometown advantage means nothing in indoor golf. Jupiter Links is on the outside of the playoff window, looking in. Tiger Woods and Kevin Kisner might have been strong additions a decade ago, but this season, they’ve struggled to find their form. In contrast, the two teams from California and the squad from Atlanta have taken to indoor golf like ducks do with H2O. Both the Bay and LA Golf Club, along with Atlanta, have qualified for the extended season. That means that NY, Boston, or Jupiter will be the fourth seed and, honestly, it’s hard to predict which will move on.

Last week, we watched in hilarity and astonishment as Tiger Woods hit a 199-yard shot…99 yards. And he hit it perfectly! Hearing incorrectly his caddie’s call, Woods grabbed a wedge when he needed more and came up a few clubs short. That miscue summed up the way the season has gone for some teams. The Bay preserved its undefeated record, moving to four and oh with a 6 to 3 triumph. The match was tight until the final team hole, when The Bay accepted the hammer and took three points to move ahead, by 5 to 1. Links won the first singles hole, but needed a miracle. With a lead, you don’t accept the hammer. Links closed to 3-5 on the penultimate hole, but Wyndham Clark brought home another point for Bay, giving the final tally.