For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Monday morning, golf fans, as the PGA Tour returns after a week break.

1. 9-hole playoff!

AP report…”In fading light and with another thunderstorm approaching, Celine Boutier made a birdie on the ninth playoff hole to defeat Atthaya Thitikul and win the Maybank Championship on the LPGA Tour on Sunday.”

• “In a marathon playoff, both players made near identical shots on several holes and saw potential winning putts lip out as they stayed tied through eight tense holes, which included sitting out a 90-minute storm delay at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course.”

• “At the ninth playoff hole on the par-3 15th, the Thai player narrowly missed her birdie putt opening the door for Boutier, who showed no nerves in landing her 6-foot putt to clinch her fourth title of the season, including wins at the Women’s Scottish Open and the Evian Championship for her first major title.”

2. Sami outlasts Campillo in Qatar

DP World Tour report…”Sami Välimäki overcame Jorge Campillo in a play-off to win the 2023 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters after hunting down the Spaniard during a thrilling back-nine battle.”

• “Trailing third-round leader Campillo all afternoon, Finland’s Välimäki finally hit the front at the 17th courtesy of a seven-foot birdie putt.”

• “But the pendulum swung back Campillo’s way as the Spaniard birdied the last to join Välimäki on 18 under par and take the contest to extra holes.”

• “And Välimäki only needed one play-off hole to seal victory, as a nerveless birdie putt earned him a second DP World Tour title.”

3. Q-School update

Golf Channel digital report…”Play at the final four of 13 total first-stage sites for PGA Tour Q-School wrapped up on Friday.”

• “Among the notables who will be playing on: Turk Pettit, who has apparently been cleared to play in PGA Tour-sanctioned events following his participation in LIV’s inaugural season last year; golf YouTuber George Bryan, the brother of PGA Tour winner Wes Bryan; and Ryan Ruffels, the former Aussie prodigy who has battled injuries in recent years.”

• “Those advancing will compete in one of five second-stage events, which will take place either Nov. 14-17 or Nov. 28-Dec. 1. Final stage, where PGA Tour cards will be awarded to the top five players and ties, is scheduled for Dec. 14-17 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.”

4. ICYMI: 2 KFT players suspended for betting

Golf Digest’s Tod Leonard…”The PGA Tour announced on Friday that it has suspended two players on the Korn Ferry Tour for violating the Integrity Program. In an emailed statement, the tour said Vince India and Jake Staiano placed bets on PGA Tour competitions, though did not bet on tournaments in which they were participants.”

• “The tour said India is suspended from PGA Tour-sanctioned competition for six months, with the suspension having begun on Sept. 18, 2023. Staiano is banned from PGA Tour-sanctioned tournaments for three months, with his suspension starting on Sept. 11, 2023.”

5. Tour turns down Endeavor

Eben Novy-Williams for Sportico…”Endeavor is no longer in talks to lead an investment into the PGA Tour after making an offer that included a larger strategic partnership between the two sides.”

• “…Endeavor’s offer, Shapiro said, was tied to an expansion of the company’s broader work with the PGA Tour, which encompasses everything from selling commercial rights to tournament management. Endeavor (NYSE: EDR) sought a multiyear deal that would pay it $25 million per year, he said. In exchange, Endeavor was looking to lead a group that would acquire “no more than 10%” of a PGA investment vehicle.”

• “The capital would have come through TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), the new publicly traded entity comprised of UFC and WWE. Endeavor controls via a majority stake in TKO.”

6. Stubbs wins APA

AP report…”Australian Jasper Stubbs won at the second playoff hole to claim the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship on Sunday and an invitation to the 2024 Masters and a spot in next year’s British Open at Royal Troon.”

• “Stubbs came from six shots back to finished tied with Chinese pair Sampson Zheng and Ding Wenyi at 1-over 285 at Royal Melbourne and force a playoff.”

• “The 22-year-old Stubbs and Ding both made birdie at the tricky par-4 18th, but Zheng could only make par and was eliminated.”

7. Alison Lee wins by 8 in Saudi Arabia

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…”One week after Alison Lee lost in a playoff on the LPGA, she ran laps around the field in Saudi Arabia. Lee shot a mind-boggling 61-61-65 at the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Team Series event at Riyadh Golf Club.”

• “Lee smashed the LET’s 36-hole scoring record by six shots with her 22-under total.”

• “She went on to beat the field by eight shots, finishing at 29-under 187, which matches the tour’s tournament scoring record. Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, the recent hero of the Solheim Cup, finished solo second after rounds of 65-63-67. Charley Hull finished third at 18 under.”