The 2024 PGA Tour season ended a bit oddly, and the FM Championship on the LPGA circuit defies definition. Come to think of it, there were some spiritual hijinx going on across the golf world, almost as if Seamus MacDuff had released a skulk of pixies and gremlins from the dark place beneath the 13th at Burningbush. We are used to seeing sand shanks and 78s early in the season, not in the culminating stages of the year-long run. Both the sand-shanker and the 78, oddly enough, found a way to win. Intrigued? I hope so. Please enjoy this Tour Rundown, as we conclude the PGA Tour season and ramp up the world’s other tours.

PGA Tour @ Tour Championship: Scheffler secures seventh

Scottie Scheffler began the week at ten-under par, thanks to his six-victory season through Labor Day. His play over the first three days suggested that the cushion would be enough to accrue a lucky number seven, but then a queer thing happened.: Scheffler started playing like Alexander Scheffler, instead. Holes five through eight saw three bogies and a birdie, lowlighted by some duck hooks, slices, and that aforementioned, sand-shank. Scheffler’s safe lead was down to two shots, and fans and competitors alike had to wonder what universal mood had shifted.

Whether it was Scottie, or caddie Ted Scott, that flipped the switch, we shall never know. Holes nine through eleven saw consecutive birdies, and the man from New Texey was on top to stay. For authentication, he made a stellar eagle at the 14th, and ultimately finished off a four-shot win over Collin Morikawa, with a long, two-putt for par at the last. Sahith Theegala, in his 100th PGA Tour competition, posted 64 on the last day and came third, two behind Morikawa.

2024 was a brilliant and odd year for Scheffler. He added trophies from the Players Championship and the Masters to his collection, added four non-majors to his win total, and even spent time in a Louisville jail cell (still too soon) during the PGA Championship. He is the acclaimed, top player in the world, and at age 28, is entering a prime that should see him pass 20 tour wins and, perhaps, add more majors to his two Masters titles.

No one is immune to the shank.

Not even Scottie Scheffler. pic.twitter.com/RVlQfZyzjG

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 1, 2024

LPGA @ FM Championship: It’s Ryu; no, it isn’t; yes, it is!

When Haeran Ryu lit up the JJJ course with ten birdies on Friday, spectators wondered if there was any sense in playing the final 36 holes. Double bogey at holes one and four on Saturday, followed by bogey, and the magic drifted off on a breeze. Ryu ultimately signed for 78, and dropped four off the 54-hole pace of Jin Young Ko. Ko has 15 tour titles on her dossier, but none this season. She appeared to have the necessary juice to close out number 16, and a 68 did nothing to dispel that notion.

Then, Ryu returned to town. She opened with her third quartet of birdies (holes 1-4) on the week (she had two of them in round two) and added four more coupons through the 12th. A ninth birdie on the day, at 15, gave her the lead, but a wayward tee ball on 15 cost her bogey. In the end, she and Ko matched at 15-under 273, effecting a playoff for the title. As the shadows gathered, wedge approach shots to the playoff green determined the outcome. Ryu was on and Ko was long, and thus did the FM fall to the 78 Kid, Haeran Ryu.

And just like that, Haeran Ryu is a 2x LPGA Tour Winner ??

WATCH ?? https://t.co/m99eh9GFo6

— LPGA (@LPGA) September 2, 2024

DP World Tour @ British Masters: Nørgaard finds first victory

Niklas Nørgaard has been around the block, and then some, on his professional golf journey. He turned professional in 2016 and spent formative years in the Nordic golf league. He subsequently ascended to the European Challenge Tour, finally reaching the the DP World in 2022. This week in Sutton Coldfield, Nørgaard produced enough stellar golf to eek out a two-shot win over South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence.

The Belfry golf course was the site of Europe’s greatest Ryder Cup triumphs in the 1980s and 1990s. It was the ultimate, home-course advantage, as Team USA could never figure out how to play its murky, mysterious holes. Time and technology have reduced the intimidation factor, as wedges have replaced two-irons for approach plays. The Belfry is still exciting golf, with drivable par-four holes and watery finishers assured to provide drama.

Nørgaard stood one-under on the day, with four shots in hand, when he caught a flyer out of the rough at fifteen. Three chunked pitch shots ensued, leaving him with a chip for bogey. He missed, made double, and saw his advantage over Lawrence sliced in half. Fortunately for the leader, there was little of heroic nature left in his closest pursuer. Norgaard and Lawrence matched one-under stretch runs, and the newest, Great Dane had collected an inaugural, top-tier title.

What have we just seen?! ?

Niklas Nørgaard makes a double-bogey and now leads by just two.#BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/bApNV0q88B

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 1, 2024

PGA Tour Americas: Kjettrup triumphs in Brainerd

It’s a fun word to say (Brainerd) and it is probably a fun place to visit. Minnesota is a land where many northern European emigrants found a home, so it’s fitting that the week’s SECOND winner from Denmark would have a day or four at the Craguns Resort. Frederik Kjettrup emulated countryman Nørgaard with a marvelous run and a third 2024 tour title. After winning in consecutive weeks in June, Kjettrup was assured of a promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour. A third title earned him an instant promotion to the next tier, and the dilemma of where to play this week.

Rounds of 62 and 63 staked the Dane to a five-shot advantage over Neal Shipley. The former US Am runner-up closed the margin to four, but needed something ultra-special on Sunday. He didn’t get it, and finished solo third. Bryce Lewis DID get that something special, and almost stole a title from Kjettrup. Seven birdies and an eagle on day four, brought Lewis within reach of a mythic 59. With a par three and par five ahead, he was tied with Kjettrup and in the driver’s seat. Alas, Lewis’ energy was spent, and he closed par-par for 61. Behind him, Kjettrup reached the par-five closer in two, and faced a thirty-feet putt from the lower tier to the upper one. The strike was too firm, and ball intended to race five or six feet past. In the end, the hole got in the way, and after a 360-degree orbit, the ball dropped for eagle and a two-shot win.

Walk-off eagle for win number 3!

?? Freddie Kjettrup picks up his 3rd win in 8 starts in dramatic fashion at the CRMC Championship ??? pic.twitter.com/XpgG8PQXph

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) September 1, 2024