Labor Day in the USA brings the transition from carefree summer days to classrooms for the younger set. For the grown-ups, its a three- or four-day weekend that may have roots in the harvest tradition, or may simply be a reminder that we’ve earned a break from the work of life. Over half of the world’s major professional golf tours took a break this weekend. Some anticipate a ramp-up to a playoff run, while at least one looks toward a major international team event. Ironically, the one that still has a playoff run ahead, and also looks to that major international team event, held a tournament. Aaahhh, golf. Let’s run down the three events that took place this week, and say hello to September.

DP World Tour @ European Masters: Thriston Lawrence the first takes the trophy

Oh, luvvy! For those of a certain age, Gilligan’s Island still resonates. Despite the alternate spelling of the first name, this week’s winner calls forth a millionaire and his wife in the memory banks. Thriston Lawrence etched his name into the winner’s book at Crans-sur-Sierre for a second time in four years. The thick-armed South African overcame two English Matts (Wallace and Fitzpatrick) with designs on representing Europe in the Ryder Cup, along with one automatic qualifier (Rasmus Hojgaard.)

A three-bogey start is not the recipe for success, nor the medicine for any ailment. That’s precisely how Lawrence began round four at the Crans Montana-area club in Switzerland. With resolve, Lawrence began his climb up the mountain with an eagle two on the par-four sixth. His drive reached the proper shelf of the putting surface, and he dropped a twenty-feet putt. Five birdies followed, and Lawrence reached the home green in 22-under par.

Wallace made his birdies on the front nine, while Fitzpatrick had a late charge to secure a top-five finish. Take their ringer score and they would have given Lawrence a challenge. As it was, Wallace tied for second on 20-under par, with Sami Valimaki and Hojgaard, whose closing 62 was the talk of the mountain.

LPGA @ FM Championship: Wang holds strong for first title 

Miranda Wang is familiar with adversity. She was in her fourth year at Duke when the COVID pandemic hit, and put unanticipated brakes on her best collegiate season to date. Move the tape five years, and Wang is now a winner on the LPGA circuit. Wang came to the TPC Boston course in Massachusetts and put on a four-day clinic. Her scores totaled 268, and she held off world number one Jeeno Thitikul to secure the winner’s trophy.

At the round’s start, Sei Young Kim and Rose Zhang seemed to be the key challengers to Wang. Kim matched Wang’s day-four 70, and remained three shots adrift, in solo third. Zhang was in at 72, backing off to a tie for fifth with Jin Hee Im, whose day-low 62 vaulted her up the board. Out of the pack came Thitikul, and she nearly overtook Wang for the victory.

Thitikul was out in 31 strokes, putting fear in all the leaders. She cooled on the inward half, posting one birdie at the 12th hole. Thitikul had attained a one-shot advantage over Wang in the stretch run, but a  bogey at 17 was the strike that relegated her to a runner-up finish. As she was losing a shot to par, Wang later posted birdie at the same hole, reclaim the lead. Pars at the last for both elevated Wang to winner’s status on the LPGA Tour

PGA Tour Americas @ CRMC Championship: Brennan wins second of season

Wake Forest alumnus Michael Brennan already has a promotion secured for next season. He will ply his trade on the Korn Ferry Tour, thanks to his performance this year on PGA Tour Americas. Brennan will always remember August of 2025. He opened the month with his first tour title, and closed it with a second. As the tour dipped below the 49th Parallel, Brennan won in a playoff over third-round leader Derek Hitchner.

It was low or go on Sunday in Brainerd, Minnesota. 54-hole leader Hitchner played well, posting four-under 67. Thomas Ponder threw a scare, posting 10-under 61 for 25-under par and solo third place. Unfortunately for Hitchner, Brennan unleashed a 63 of his own, featuring four birdies-five pars on each nine. Hitchner posted an early eagle, but never caught fire. He had to make birdie at the last to force a playoff for the title.

The extra hole was not the equal of the week’s fireworks. Both Brennan and Hitchner struggled from tee to green. Brennan took up residence in the rough, while Hitchner found a penalty area with his second. In the end, it was Brennan making a putt for par on the 18th green. to stumble past Hitchner for the victory.

Tie ball game ?

Birdies on 7, 9 and 10 gives Michael Brennan a share of the lead in Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/y4OiVaxrMr

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 31, 2025