The ladies of the LPGA and LET had the week off, so we’ll have to make due with the lads. No worries there, as 5 of the world’s major professional tours were in action. “Fairway Jesus,” as David Feherty likes to call Tommy Fleetwood, hosted the British Masters in Southport, England, while the Asia-Pacific Open was contested in Japan. Stateside, the Webbies were in Kansas City MO, while the Oldsters did battle in the first of back-to-back, major championships on PGA Tour Champions. Finally, the regular PGA Tour met in Dallas at the linksy Trinity Forest, where rain did its best to delay and detour. Ultimately, the players sneaked in 72 holes.

We find ourselves in the midst of a new major timetable. From April to July, on at least one tour each week, a major is to be contested. More attention for that tour, more of a chance for establishment (or redemption) of one’s career, is on the books. Pay close attention this week at Bethpage, when the PGA Championship debuts in May, or next week in Rochester, when the Senior PGA returns to Oak Hill. With no disrespect intended toward other professional tournaments, major titles are the ones that catch the attention of the lightweight golf fan, turning her or him into a passionate one, if only for a weekend. On, then, to this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Classic has one victor, but much gratitude

While Sung-hoon Kang left Trinity Forest with a trophy and a big check, a handful of other golfers left with confidence. Coming into the season of many majors, that’s just as valuable. Kang lost the lead on Saturday to Matt Every, then reclaimed it Sunday morning, during the 3rd round restart. The two golfers handed the top spot back and forth through the entirety of the final 18 holes. Every had 5 birdies (and one bogey) over the first 6 holes, then Kang made a run with birdies from 14 through 16. The only way to separate was to play perfect golf, and the winds, wetness and diversity at Trinity Forest didn’t allow that, not for anyone in the final round. Check that. Scott Piercy was perfect. He birdied 6 of his first 8 holes to reach -20. He needed to reach 9-under on the day, but only one more birdie awaited. He tied Every at -21, two behind the victor.

In addition to Every and Piercy, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Peter Uihlein, Rory Sabbatini, Matt Jones and Tyler Duncan also came away with top-five finishes. Knowing that they were a run of birdies away from a challenge will stand them well as they travel half a country north, to near Long Island. Bethpage Black could not differ more from this week’s venue, but don’t tell that to those who left Dallas with the greatest prize: their confidence.

Sung Kang is a @KobeBryant fan.

Three straight back-nine birdies.

Stepping up in the 4th quarter.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/9FRaiZ2YCU

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2019

European Tour witness to Kinhult’s first triumph

Host Tommy Fleetwood gave everything he had to the 2019 British Masters, but with 6 holes remaining, he ran out of gas in an effort to hand himself the trophy. Next came defending champion Eddie Pepperell, he of the enviable wit and golf game. Pepperell reached the clubhouse at -15, and with golfers falling to their apparent doom behind him, looked a solid bet to at least reach extra holes. Bobby MacIntyre of Scotland joined the defender at 15 below par, and the pair waited for the final group to conclude play. Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult, with no wins to his name, played solid golf through the 14th, as Matthew Wallace alongside failed to separate himself from the field. Still chuffed at being ignored for a Ryder Cup captain’s pick last fall, Wallace has played with a sizable chip on his shoulder ever since. Over the closing six holes, with a chance to seize victory, the Englishman made six unfortunate pars, finishing on -15 with the earlier pair. Kinhult played as expected, making consecutive bogeys at 15 and 16 to begin to fall away. Just as suddenly, when all was certainly lost, he returned birdies at 17 and 18 to reach 16-under and shock the tournament field. With the win, the Swede’s OWGR status of 210 will certainly change, as he moves close to the top 100. For Wallace, an opportunity lost. For Pepperell, a near-defense. For MacIntyre, validation.

????? Marcus Kinhult's winning round in three minutes.#BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/zm5qPIVtNx

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 12, 2019

Gellerman claims first Web win at KC Golf Classic

Did anyone win this week, who hadn’t won before? I don’t think so. Holy smokes! In truth, I had no idea who Michael Gellerman was before today. I found his profile on the Web.Com Tour page, and thought that he possessed a face that combined Chris Farley with a young Ron Howard. In other words, middle America. Before today, Gellerman ranked 75th on tour; this evening, he sits at #8. Good week, wouldn’t you say? For the majority of the weekend, I expected that Argentina’s Nelson Ledesma would break through for his first victory. The Platense had 65 on Saturday, but certainly didn’t expect a 17-par, 1-bogey Sunday. Despite the absence of fuel on day four, Ledesma finished one excruciating stroke behind, in a tie for 2nd with Harry Higgs. Unlike the PGA Tour this week, many players had to feel like they let this one slip away, beginning with Ledesma. Luke Guthrie and Jack Maguire were even on the day and finished 3 back. Kyle Reifers was +1 on the day and sat alongside, at -8. Gellerman’s winning round was opportunistic: he made a birdie here, than a bunch of pars. Another birdie, then a second string of pars. When he birdied the 13th, the game was on. No one would catch him, and season-long goals would need a review.

Down the stretch @KCGolfClassic …

• @OUKnowMike -11 (13)
• @HarryHiggs1991 -10 (14)
• @NelsonLedesmaOK -10 (12)
• @KyleReifersPGA -10 (12)#WebTour pic.twitter.com/uGxek9ym1X

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) May 12, 2019

Asian Tour sees Asaji’s inaugural victory on home soil

It seems that a stellar young prospect emerges from Japan every decade or so. Ryo Ishikawa and Hideki Matsuyama have shown their skills in recent years, and the future seems bright for amateur Ren Yonezawa, who posted 2-under par this week at the Sobu country club. That number tied him with the USA’s Micah Lauren Shihn at the end of 72 holes, but the pair found itself staring up at Yosuke Asaji, who eclipsed them by one with -3 total. The victory was Asaji’s first on the Asian Tour, Asaji and Shin were the front-runners entering round four, but each struggle to a +1 score of 72 on the final day. In contrast, Yonezawa played brilliantly, tying for low round of the day with 68. For Asaji, the victory validated years of toil on practice ranges and putting greens; for the young Yonezawa, the almost-was signals an opportunity to ascend the WAGA rankings and perhaps make a career of professional golf one day.

#DiamondCup ????????
A slim one-shot lead for @yosuke_asaji with 8 holes to go. Currently 3-under par and leading @MICahshin1 by 1. Only 3 players still under par now!#whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/1oTcoWaUTg

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) May 12, 2019

It’ll be a Monday finish at @RegionsTrad.

7:30 resumption to Round 4 with @stevestricker leading by two. pic.twitter.com/flYEunNdOI

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 12, 2019