It’s hard to imagine this level of golf, under these circumstances. So much has been made of the presence of fans and other ancillary humans. Tiger and Rory have eloquently stated how much the roar of the crowd impacts their ability to raise their games. Performances this last week demonstrated that others are capable of summoning greatness in the absence of supporters. Proven winners and unproven newcomers came to the fore in the penultimate week of August. Learn more about their performances in this week’s Tour Rundown.

Women’s British honors another new face

More than other major championship, British Open venues have a magic proclivity for recognizing worthy, new faces. Mo Martin in 2014, Georgia Hall in 2018, Hinako Shibuno in 2019, and now, Sophia Popov in 2020.

The Royal Troon weather was the early story in Scotland. The USA’s Amy Olson, hearty from a Minnesota upbringing, managed an unfathomable 67 in Thursday’s gusts and gales. Just like that, she slipped to 81 in round two, and went away to a 45th-place tie. Recognizable names moved about the leader board, but the only two that stuck were Minjee Lee and Inbee Park, who came 3rd and 4th, respectively. Popov seized the lead on Saturday evening, on the strength of a 67 of her own, and wondered if Sunday would bring the dream for which she worked.

For most of day four, pundits pondered two resolutions to the 44th playing of the event. Charging with fury was Jasmine Suwwanapura of Thailand. The 27-year old posted four consecutive birdies on the outward nine, and added two late ones, at the 16th and 17th. On this day, Jas needed perfection to catch Popov, and two bogeys did her in. Her run to second place was marvelous. and should serve as the confidence-builder she needs.

Popov was unmatched on Sunday. She followed her 67 with 68 on day four, and claimed a two-shot win with a safe, closing bogey. The former University of Southern California golfer demonstrated a complete command of diverse shots all week, including multiple drivers off the deck. In the end, it was an incredible putting performance that marked her as a major champion. Long birdies and mid-range par saves dotted her scorecards all week. In 2020, Germany has its first female major winner in golf, and she could not be more worthy.

Dustin Johnson on feeling 22

DJ played an event this weekend. He finished at 30 strokes below par, for his 22nd career title. A bunch of other guys played another event, for 2nd place, at the Northern Trust. That trophy went to Harris English, who posted an admirable minus-19. Some kidding aside, this should be a monumental performance for the lanky fellow from the Palmetto state. Johnson has won before, but not like this. Johnson has been raised up as a golfer for the ages, if only … An eleven-shot victory should give his psyche a surge in confidence, and should make him a recognizable favorite for every event played, to the end of this campaign.

The only laurel not worn by the 2016 US Open champion this week was low round. That went to Scottie Scheffler’s 59 on Friday, but even that note has humorous undertones. You see, DJ was 11 under par through 11 holes, on the strength of two eagles and seven birdies. Par out for 60, yawn, ho hum. We, of course, were pulling for a few more birdies and a silly number, like 57 or 58. DJ had none left, and seven pars later, he signed for 60. On the week, Johnson had five eagles, and a mere three bogies, two of which came on Thursday. Johnson became the fifth golfer in 2020 to claim the top spot in the world golf rankings. If he continues to play remotely close to the manner in which he conducted himself in Boston, he’ll hold on to that distinction for at least a month.

Langasque wins for the first time on the European Tour

For quite some time in Wales, it seemed that a north European might raise the winner’s trophy at the Wales Open in Newport. Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden held the 54-hole lead, but he went away on Sunday with 74. Rising past him was Finland’s Sami Välimäki, who posted 136 on the weekend to reach 6-under par, good for second place.

The spoils of triumph fell into the hands of one Romain Langasque, of southern France. Langasque tied England’s Sam Horsfield for low round on Sunday with 65. For Horsfield, the minus-six performance moved him into a tie for 44th. Langasque was able to parlay his six-birdie, twelve-par showing into a five-spot boost, from sixth to first.

If Välimäki had summoned the frenchman’s flawless performance, he’d have won the event. Bogies at 3, 10, and 12 on Sunday were his undoing. A stout eagle at the ninth, paired with three birdies, were enough to move him past two Englishmen (Matthew Jordan and David Dixon) into the solo runner-up position. The European Tour remains in the United Kingdom for one more week, then journeys to southern Spain to open September.

NCHC 2020 recognizes (P)Luck in its champion

If ever an event called out for an abbreviated acronym, it’s the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. A worthy cause whose title offers a plethora of syllables for media types. The NCHC, long played at The Ohio State University’s Scarlet course, was a mighty battle this year. No one golfer held a sizable lead at any juncture, and the final outcome came on the strength of pluck.

Curtis Luck added the consonant “P” to the front of his name this weekend. The Australian golfer had been in position before to claim an inaugural title, but the opportunity had so far gone to someone else. On this day, he was paired with Cameron Young, he of the four consecutive, top-15 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour. In any other year, Young would be prepping for a promotion to the big tour. 2020 is like no other year.

Back to Pluck, errr, Luck. The man from Oz had little cause for celebration for most of Sunday. Stuck in first gear, with two bogies and a bushel of pars through 14 holes, his saving grace was that no one, including Young, was able to gain separation. In the blink of an eye, birdies fell his way, at 15 and 16, and Luck was able to surge past a trio of runners-up, into the top spot.

Had Luck looked over his shoulder, he might have seen Will Zalatoris, the hot man earlier this season. Zalatoris reached the winning tally of minus-eleven at the sixteenth green, but closed with consecutive bogeys and dropped to a tie for fifth. He might also have seen Stephen Jaeger, racing toward a second consecutive win. The German came close, tying Zalatoris for fifth. The PGA Tour is entertaining, for sure, but these guys are playing for their professional lives! For them, it’s pressure. For us, it’s incredible drama.

Eagle flies the Bertsch flag at Buffalo Ridge

Shane Bertsch shouldn’t have won on Sunday in the Ozarks. After opening with twin 64s, the journeyman pro found himself in a playoff with guys like Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry, and Glen Day. Let’s be realistic: Langer is the most decorated Champions Tour golfer in history. That’s scary. Perry won 14 times on the regular tour, then added 10 wins on the Champions Tour. Day? Well, he birdied the 18th to reach the playoff, the only one of the four to do so. In other words, Bertsch had zero momentum as the foursome returned to the 18th tee.

Of course, it would be Bertsch who jockeyed a six-iron approach from the best drive of the group, to 25 feet for eagle. And it would also be Bertsch who stroked the putt with precisely the amount of pace it needed to fall into the left edge of the cup, for a winning eagle. The unheralded winners who emerged last week have Bertsch to thank; his victory on Friday showed the way to all of them.