Three of the world’s larger tours (LPGA, Asian, and DP World) took much of February off. Fortunately, four PGA Tour circuits (Main, Korn Ferry, Champions, and Latinoamérica) kept the competitive fires on full ignite during the month of love. Los Angeles, Sarasota, Naples, and Mazatlán hosted respective championships that featured tense resolutions. Although margins of victory ranged from one to three shots, each event was in doubt until the final flag was replaced. Golf has returned to center stage on the professional sport viewing spectrum, so enjoy a four-tour rundown with us on this penultimate February weekend for 2022.

Golf is hard.

4-putt on the final hole to take @OUknowmike from a win if birdied to T6. pic.twitter.com/3bltA58lj9

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) February 21, 2022

PGA Tour: Genesis Invitational claimed by Niemann

The young Chilean,  Joaquín Niemann, held off a final-round charge by Collin Morikawa and an untested youngster named Cameron Young who wouldn’t go away. The veteran of the 2019 Presidents Cup International side and holder of one PGA Tour victory, Niemann has been saddled with expectations, and selected as storied a venue as possible to record his second title. Committing the near-sacrilege of a 63-63 opening 36 holes, Niemann was never separated from the field by more than five strokes.

On Friday, Young recorded a 62 to keep the Chilean in sight. Neither golfer could separate from the other on Saturday, and they were joined by an in-form Viktor Hovland in Sunday’s final pairing. Young closed to within two shots of Niemann with a birdie at the first, but with little margin for error, the Wake Forest alumnus could not recapture the fireworks of round two. He ultimately tied for second spot, equal to the best finish of his emerging PGA Tour career. It was not Hovland who emerged as Sunday’s comeback threat, but Morikawa.

The current Champion Golfer of the Year holed a pitch for eagle at number ten to join the chase in earnest, then posted birdies at 16 and 17 to reach 17-under par. Niemann would not go yield, and a spectacular eagle of his own at the 11th hole gave enough margin (six shots) to cushion the blow of back-to-back bogeys at 14 and 15. In the end, Niemann won by two over Morikawa and Young. The weight of expectations were eased for now, although talk will doubtless turn to when will he win a major for the young South American.

It looked good all the way. ?@JoacoNiemann chips in on No. 11 for his third eagle of the week.

He leads by SIX. pic.twitter.com/W1ncxPIisq

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 20, 2022

Korn Ferry Tour: LECOM trophy resides with a familiar face

Byeong “Ben” An featured in an article last fall on five surprising PGA Tour card losses. An was a climber for much of his career, but hit a plateau in the last four years, culminating in his assignment to the Korn Ferry Tour for rehabilitation. Most of the developmental tour stops will be thrilled to have him along, but it won’t be for long. On Sunday, An remained patient and came away with Korn Ferry tour win number one, by a single stroke.

Michael Gellerman, the 54-hole leader, contracted a case of the wilds on Sunday and tossed two doubles and three singles into the bogey column. The worst was at 18, where he stood tied with An for first place. Gellerman’s approach shot found the green, but his putter betrayed him. Four putts later, he had tumbled to a tie for 6th, all in the space of about forty feet. An knew how Gellerman felt, to a degree. His 72nd-hole bogey had given Gellerman hope.

Gellerman’s shocking finish elevated four golfers into a tie for 2nd. Among the quartet, Scott Harrington had the biggest pit in his stomach. Bogeys at 15 and 17 had dropped him from -18 to a stroke away from An. Seonghyeon Kim made a 16-spot move on day four, posting 66 to tie Harrington, Ben Griffin and MJ Daffue for the silver medal.

The putt that made all the difference. ?@ByeongHunAn's birdie on No. 16 Sunday at the LECOM Suncoast Classic, en route to a one-stroke victory. pic.twitter.com/GRM8dDeQqs

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) February 21, 2022

PGA Tour Champions: Chubb Classic sees Langer’s 43rd extra-age win

No one turns the engine like Bernhard Langer. The senior legend began the week with a 64, held onto the lead with 68 on Saturday, then withstood charges by a variety of pretenders to earn a 43rd career title on the PGA Tour Champions. Bogey at the first hole on Sunday gave hope to Robert Karlsson, Tim Petrovic, and others. The unflappable Langer regrouped and rallied his way to five birdies over the next 15 holes, to regain the lead.

During this same time period, Karlsson and Petrovic had fired and fallen back. Langer closed bogey-birdie to reach 16-under par on the week. His margin of victory over Petrovic was three shots, with Retief Goosen another shot back at -12. With this prime title, Langer moved within two trophies of Hale Irwin, the all-time leading winner on the elder circuit. Will there be a changing of the guard in 2022? We’re not betting against it.

Locked in. ?@BernhardLanger6 hit a beauty to extend his lead on 9. pic.twitter.com/eTsKG9kNSG

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) February 20, 2022

PGA Tour Latinoamérica: Estrella del Mar welcomes journeyman to podium

Them old timers love to say how Saturday is moving day. Well, not on PGATourLA! Domingo es el día de la mudanza, according to this writer. Down Mazatlán way, a bunch of golfers made mid-60s moves on Sunday to take a run at the leaders. Overnight leaders Armando Favela and Anthony Paolucci ran out of birdies over the final 18 holes, and dropped into a tie for 6th position. The third member of the 54-hole lead club was a little more fortunate, but hold on just a minute. First, the runners-up.

Mitchell Meissner of the USA and Chile’s Cristobal del Solar posted 65 and 67, respectively, to jump up to 20-under par. They surpassed nearly everyone in the field, with Meissner moving up seven spots, versus three for del Solar. Nearly everyone, remember. At the end of day four, the same guy as Thursday stood atop the field. His name? Matt Ryan.

Ryan opened with 63 on Thursday to take a two-shot advantage. His 70 on Friday dropped him behind halfway leader Paolucci, but his Saturday 66 returned him to the top. On Sunday, Ryan was flawless over ten holes, posting seven-under to assume a healthy lead. Bogey at 11 and 14 weakened the knees just a bit, but he closed in style, making birdie at 16 to assure a three-shot win. At age 35, the victory was the lefthander’s first on a professional tour, buoying the hopes of journeymen professionals everywhere.

Matt Ryan para par y total de -23 para triunfar en el #EstrellaDelMarOpen. ??@MattyRyan24 for par at the last (-23) for a three-shot win at Estrella del Mar CC.

Moves to third in the #TotalplayCup ? standings. pic.twitter.com/jGCXXtxkzs

— PGATOURLA (@PGATOURLA) February 20, 2022