If there were any question as to the arrival of golf season, it is the week of the Players Championship that sounds the bell. Middle America sees its courses re-open for play, and the northern states anticipate a tee time in the near future. It is this annual rite, near Jacksonville, Florida, that rings across the golf world. This week, three other tournaments also saw fitting conclusions to their competitions. As the golfing public and viewership prepares for the true arrival of major-championship season, let us run down the penultimate week of the Florida stretch, and a triumvirate of other events.

PGA Tour: Players Championship is Scheffler’s second elevated win

No, it’s not officially a major championship, but the Players Championship has all the trappings of one. It is the flagship event of the US PGA Tour, and it awards a bankful of money to the winner, along with a massive exemption for the next hundred years or so. This year’s champion is last year’s Masters winner. Scottie Scheffler, after a close call at the US Open, returned to victory lane with a title defense at the Phoenix Open. Mere weeks later, Scheffler reclaimed the top ranking in the male golf world, with a magical week at Sawgrass.

As the players jockeyed for position over the first 36 holes, an exciting conclusion loomed. Scheffler decided to take matters over himself, and posted a seven-under 65. That round gave him a two-shot advantage over Min Woo Lee, a young challenger looking to make a name for himself  by winning a top-tier event.

Sunday brought the sort of golf (69) we’ve come to expect from Scheffler, meaning that Min Woo and the others would need to go Tom-Hoge low to have a chance at the title. Min Woo lost pace early, with a triple-bogey seven on the outward half. Stepping up was Tyrrell Hatton, who raced to a final-day 65. Hatton had barely survived the cut, with 72-71 during the week. His 68-65 served to buoy his confidence as the true meat of the season awaits.

Ultimately, it was Scheffler who defined the week. We’ve already seen him defend at Phoenix. His comfort level at Augusta should be as high as possible, suggesting that we might have our first repeat Masters winner since Nick Faldo.

Scottie Scheffler's tee shot finds the Island Green safely on 17. 

Grandma approves. pic.twitter.com/4OqE9tirV4

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2023

DP World Tour: Magical Kenya Open marks Campillo’s third win

Spain’s Jorge Campillo might be considered a late bloomer when it comes to victories. As a student at Indiana University in the 2000s, Campillo won nine titles during his time at university. Unlike countryman Jon Rahm who, a decade later, would take the tour by storm after a successful college career, Campillo would take a bit longer to secure a title.

This week, at the delightful Muthaiga golf club in Nairobi, Campillo posted four rounds in the 60s, highlighted by a 63 on Saturday. That 63 was critical, as Campillo and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura would play shot for shot on Sunday. Both players would post 66 on day four, with each notching one bogey against six birdies. Campillo scored a critical birdie at the 71st hole, but Kawamura made it interesting by closing with one of his own. He finished runner-up by two shots.

81.93% greens in regulation for the week ? @jcampillogolf | #MagicalKenyaOpen pic.twitter.com/cxSUP75qzW

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 12, 2023

Asian Tour: International Series Thailand in playoff to Ormsby

The week’s most exciting event, without doubt, took place at the Black Mountain golf club in Prachaubkirikhan. Don’t worry: we’re not tossing a pronunciation quiz your way. 11 golfers finished within three shots of the top slot, which turned out to be 20-under par. Six golfers, including Jazz Janewattananond, reached minus-17. Kevin Yuan was solo fifth at -18, and Micah Shin and Yeongsu Kim tied for third at -19. It was Wade Ormsby and Chonlatit Chuenboonngam who blazed Black Mountain for 65 and 64, respectively, on day the fourth. It was they to whom the playoff holes would be devoted, although the Australian Ormsby ensured that it would take only a 73rd hole to decide matters. A fifteen-feet putt fell for the Adelaide native, giving him a fourth Asian Tour title.

The clutch birdie putt on the first extra hole that sealed the deal for @wadeormsby ???#ISthailand #InternationalSeries #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/wL2RORK5wb

— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) March 12, 2023

Australasian Tour: New Zealand PGA Championship to Dobbelaar

Not certain which is more interesting for a lede: 2 A and 2 B in his last name, or his 578 world ranking. I’ll let you make the call, and get on with my work. The Gulf Harbour Club was open to low scores this week, so anything in the 70s was unpalatable. Louis Dobbelaar didn’t have to worry about that decade, as he found a way to post four numbers in the 60s. LD found himself four back of the leader after an opening 67, but his day-two 66 brought him even with Sung Yin Jeo of the host country. Saturday saw the pair battle to the end, with Dobbelaar edging Sung Yin by a shot.

Sunday saw the leaders go shot for shot until the 11th hole. It was there that Sung Yin’s train went off the rails. The Kiwi went bogey-double to give Dobbelaar some breathing room. With the air out of his sail, Sung Yin Jeo closed with a bogey at 18, but was two shots clear of Japan’s Ren Yonezawa for the runner-up money. Dobbelaar tapped in for par at 18, and earned a three-shot victory over his pursuer.

.@louisdobbelaar stands on the 17th tee with a two shot lead. #NZPGA pic.twitter.com/JOLUM3uxH0

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) March 12, 2023