The world’s golfing viators feel their seasons winding down, just as folks in the northern hemisphere sense that summer is coming to a close. This time of year brings not the magical moments that the majors bring. Instead, it feels real, because touring competitiors save and lose their jobs, gain promotions, just as we do. 2022 has been a lightning rod of a year for professional golf. It’s only two-thirds over by calendar standards, but playoffs have arrived and the end is nigh for complete fan focus.

With that in mind, let’s turn our attention to five events that held our gaze on the world’s tours, and congratulate Saki Baba and Monet Chun on reaching the finals of the USGA Women’s Amateur. Baba turned in a timeless performance to defeat the pride of Canada, and win a second USGA title for Japan.

A true masterpiece!

Saki Baba's 11-and-9 rout to win the 122nd #USWomensAm is our @Lexus Top Performance of the Day. #LexusGolf pic.twitter.com/HTrJXPO9UG

— USGA (@USGA) August 15, 2022

PGA Tour: FedEx Cup Playoffs Round One: FedEx St. Jude goes from W to Z

Will Zalatoris and Cameron Young, past teammates at Wake Forest, have waged a spirited battle to determine which one would earn a PGA Tour title first. This tussle was not reserved for regular tour events. The two have finished top-three in all four majors, and had come up just shy of the champion’s flag. That ended this week, as Zalatoris claimed a first professional win on the top shelf of the world’s tours.

The FedEx Cup playoffs elaborate over three weeks in August. Stop one was in the company’s hometown of Memphis, and Sepp Straka gave a heck of a performance over 75 holes. The Austrian-by-way-of-Georgia was near the lead for the entire event. His opening 64 stood him two back of the leaders, and his Friday 66 brought him closer. He and JJ Spaun played the final round together. Spaun had a day to forget, tumbling 41 spots from the top with a 78. Straka hung tough, and had a putt to win on the 72nd hole. It missed, and he entered a playoff with Zalatoris.

On Will’s side of the drama, his opening 71 gave him ground to make up, and he did so over the next 53 holes. 63, followed by 65 and 66, brought him event with Straka at 15-under par, three clear of third place. The two marched off to a playoff that lasted three holes. Play loosened, as the strain of the week became clear. At the third playoff hole, both hit from the drop zone on the par three 11th after less than stellar tee shots. Zalatoris was able to get up and down for bogey, and that was enough to defeat his overtime opponent.

An instant classic.@WillZalatoris vs. @SeppStraka

Every shot from the third and deciding playoff hole @FedExChamp. pic.twitter.com/rZclieVlSf

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 14, 2022

LPGA/Ladies European Tour: Handa World Invitational is magic for Maja

One of those Why Don’t We Do This More Often events took place in Northern Ireland this week, at a castle, no less. The LPGA and Ladies European tours joined together to host an event over the same course as a simultaneous, DP World Tour event. It may have been a crowded affair, but it was interesting and exciting with room to spare.

Amanda Doherty of the USA played stellar golf over the first two days, and surged into the lead at 134. Her weekend rounds could only match par each day, and the young American dropped away from the lead, into a tie for 8th position with compatriot Lauren Stephenson.

Surging up the charts over the final 36 was Sweden’s Maja Stark. Lurking five behind Doherty at the midway mark, Stark posted 69 on saturday to move within two shots. On Sunday, Stark went into orbit, racing past all challengers with a sublime 63. Ten birdies over the par-73 course at Galgorm Castle sent Magic Maja five shots clear of runner-up Alisen Corpuz of the USA. The victory was Stark’s fifth on the European circuit, but first with LPGA sanctioning.

What pressure? ?

The shot into 18 that sealed the deal for Maja Stark. pic.twitter.com/BgziAU4ve7

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 14, 2022

DP World Tour: Handa World Invitational a battle of two Scotsmen

The top of the board had full occupancy as day four began at the Handa World Invitational. American John Catlin was among the leaders, but he could not keep pace and slipped to a tie for 13th with a last-day 73. What ensued, was a battle of two Scots, with Ewen Ferguson and Connor Syme waging a contest for bragging rights and baubles.

To be sure, there were others involved. Spain’s Borja Virto closed with 68 to tie for second position, three behind the leader. Italy’s Renato Paratore posted 64 on day four, to tie for fourth with two others. Ferguson and Syme caught our attention, and not unearned  was it. Ferguson’s week began with a two-eagle round of 61, and as all aficionados know, keeping the lead over four days is not often an achievable task. His stumble came on Friday, with 70, but he followed with 68-69 into the weekend.

The chore for Syme was to chase the sprinter down. He was one of two golfers to post four rounds in the 60s this week, but for most of the day, he was not up to the task of catching the leader. Syme’s first ten holes were a struggle, with bogeys (three) outnumbering birdies (two). It was only the final quartet of holes (where he played three-under par) that Syme was able to make Ferguson concentrate a bit more.

The victory was Ferguson’s second of the year and career, and came five months after his initial win in Qatar.

Wire-to-wire. @EwboF wins by three ?

His second Tour win this season.@World_Inv_Golf | #WorldInvitational pic.twitter.com/3GIIRDy91C

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 14, 2022

Korn Ferry Tour: Pinnacle Bank is second of season for Shelton

Remember what we said about the Real quotient of late-season golf? It was evident on the Korn Ferry Tour this week. The PBC was the final, pre-playoffs event on the schedule, and that meant that the top 25 golfers on the money list come Sunday evening, would depart for the PGA Tour in a few months. Kevin Roy goes to the show for the first time in his journey, and Michael Kim returns after a six-spot climb in Nebraska. The heartbreak for Brandon Harkins and Ryan McCormick, who each came up a few thousand dollars shy of glory, is eased by a second opportunity to ascend, during the three-week playoff series.

Back to the heartland of America. Shelton was out in 31 on Sunday, to thrust his name into contention for win number two in 2022. Attempting to chase him down were the aforementioned Kim, Ben Taylor of England, and a bask of other crocodiles. It was Taylor who would come closest to an overtake, His Saturday 62 was the week’s low round, but his Sunday back nine harvested just one birdie. In the end, he would finish at 16-under par, in solo second.

Shelton was up to the task. A toe-stub bogey at ten was followed by birdies at 12 and 15. The later pushed Shelton to 17-under par, and he would navigate his way to port in even par, to secure a slim, one-shot win over Taylor.

Par save ??
Solo leader ??@Robby_Shelton is -17 @PinnBankGolf pic.twitter.com/3WCauLQ4Sh

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 14, 2022

PGA Tour Champions: Boeing Classic is charming third of 2022 for Jiménez

Billy Andrade was recognized recently with the 2022 Payne Stewart award for charitable work. On Sunday in Washington, he faced a challenge for a different sort of prize. The Rhode Island native was matched with Spain’s sartorial Miguel Ángel Jiménez over the final 18 holes at Snoqualmie. Each stood at 134, but only one would lift the champion’s bounty.

Unfortunately for Andrade, this day would not be his. birdies were offset by bogeys, and he dropped two slots, into a tie for third place. Jiménez fared much better. His five-under 67 was enough to hold off a charging David McKenzie of Australia. The later scribbled six birdies and twelve pars on his final-round scorecard, but his 66 was only enough to earn solo second. The day belonged to the Canarian, who doubtless celebrated his third win of the season with a fine cigar and a nice glass of Spanish Rioja.

In control from start to finish. ?@majimenez1964 with some big birdies and clutch par saves to take home his third win of the season. pic.twitter.com/pbSDVuVRzz

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 14, 2022