Six tournaments in one week? Inconceivable. A major amateur championship and a major senior event simultaneously? Inconceivable. A remake of “The Princess Bride?” Inconceivable. Yet, here we are. Comebacks galore marked the second week of August 2o2o, in the world of competitive golf. A grand champion completed her comeback, while a youngster demonstrated determination and fortitude in capturing the grand chalice of amateur golf. Tour with us the week’s results as we revisit six events in this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour: Wyndham Championship

At the same time that we feel great empathy for Billy Horschel, we feel a ridiculous incredulity for Jim Herman. Take a seat and let us explain. The Horschel family has gone through the trials and tribulations of addiction and recovery, and their road to survival is worth of a PGA Tour victory. It did not come this week, it was agonizingly close, but it will happen again soon.

The Jim Herman story is, in a word, uncanny. Herman is a former assistant professional at Trump National in New Jersey. He was encouraged by no less than the POTUS himself to chase the dream, and chase it, he did. Herman recently teed it up with Mr. Trump, as he did prior to his Barbasol Championship (2109) and Houston Open (2016) wins. You guessed it…Herman wins, HERMAN WINS!

Let’s talk 15 birdies plus 1 eagle (against a solitary, lonely bogey) over the 48 weekend hours. That’s golf, folks. On a Donald Ross, Jr., golf course, against the best that the PGA Tour has to offer. Congratulations and job well done.

LPGA & Ladies European Tours: Scottish Open

There is no such thing as a lead in tournament golf, especially when an event lasts four days. Azahara Muñoz and Stacy Lewis understood this. They entered the fourth round of the 2020 Scottish Open in first and second spot, but gave those positions up nearly as soon as the first nine of day four began. Names like EK Pederson, Cheyenne Knight, and NK Madson began to supplant them at the top of the leader board, but these are veterans, and they understood the intricacies and vagaries of a national championship’s final round.

How did it shake out at the Renaissance Club? The smoldering one, Danielle Kang, nearly pulled off a third consecutive victory, finishing at 4 deep, one out of the playoff. Madsen finished there, too. Knight and Pedersen, hailing from the USA and Denmark, respectively, reached five-under par, and waited on Muñoz and Lewis to finish the day. The duo joined in at minus-five, and off the foursome went to overtime. Things ended quickly, where Muñoz and Pedersen missed the green and chances at birdie. Knight was at 15 feet for three, with Lewis at 20. The Arkansas Assassin drained her 20-feet putt for tre and watched as Knight missed. Like that, the mom, former number one, and winless since 2017, was winless no more. Victory number 15 was sealed with grit and spectacle.

European Tour: Celtic Classic

Connor Syme held the third round lead at the CC, but Connor Syme has never won on the European Tour. He has lifted silverware on the Challenge Tour, but that’s another level. Syme had two bogeys and two birdies on day four in Wales, and fell from first to T3 on Sunday.

Andrew “Beef” Johnston posted 68 on day four, and finished in a tie for third, with Syme. Johnston has been on a wayward patch of late, so a top-three total is cause for celebration. We have the beef is not yet in the top podium spot, but he’s gaining! Thomas Pieters, lean and tall Belgian, former Ryder Cupper, also finished at 15-red and matched with Johnston and Syme on Golfer.

Who remained? How about Thomas Detry, fellow Belgian of Pieters, and fellow U of Illinois alum on Pieters? He and Pieters won the 2018 World Cup of Golf, but Detry has yet to claim a solo win on the Euro Tour. He’s getting closer (this part is ironic; more to come.) He finished at -16, solo second and two shy of … Sam Horsfield. Horsfield held the 36-hole lead, but gave it generously to Syme. On Sunday, the Englishman was bogey-free for 67 and a two-shot margin of victory. This was his second Euro Tour win for career and season, and both have come at the expense of runner-up … Thomas Detry. Yikes!

Men’s Amateur: U.S. Amateur

Lightning doesn’t strike twice, they say. Lightning hasn’t met Tyler Strafaci. On Saturday, the Georgia Tech senior stood two up with three to play in his semifinal match. He proceeded to lose 16 and 17 to Aman Gupta, the highest-ranked seed left in the field. Undaunted, Strafaci made birdie on 18 to make his way to Sunday’s final match. Fast forward to late Sunday afternoon, and Strafaci found himself in a similar, uncomfortable position.

Charles “Ollie” Osborne had made consecutive birdies at 16 and 17 to whittle Strafaci’s 2-up lead to nothing. The SMU golfer had the Yellowjacket exactly where he wanted him. Trouble was, Strafaci had been there before. Just like Saturday, Strafaci dug deep and made birdie. Just like Saturday, three consecutive holes were too much for his opponent. Osborne made par, and the US Amateur title returned to Atlanta, where former teammate Andy Ogletree had brought the hardware in 2019, after his win at Pinehurst.

Easily as important as Strafaci’s win this week, was the showcase of American links golf at the Bandon Dunes resort. For far too long, USA golfers have been enamored of soft fairways, thick rough, and balls spinning backward (even if they only dream of the third part.) The fast and firm conditions at Bandon Dunes are much easier to maintain, cost less money, and are better for the environment. Tyler Strafaci and golf both emerged as champions this week.

Korn Ferry Tour: Boise Open

#NoLie I wanted Cameron Young to win. Two reasons: coached against him at NYS CHSAA champions at James Baird State Park AND he went to my alma mater, @wakeforest. Today wasn’t his day, now wasn’t his time. Soldier on.

With luck, Young paid attention to the guys in his pairing. Stephan Jaeger, he of the 58 at the 2016 Ellie Mae Classic, played the requisite golf (68) to claim a fifth Korn Ferry title. Dan McCarthy, the best golfer that Syracuse has ever produced, continued his comeback from wrist injuries and came second. McCarthy is to the USA on the Korn Ferry Tour what Taylor Pendrith is to Canada. Both of these guys are going to break out soon, and large! With seven events left on the 2020 schedule, the limb that I select is this: those two will win two of the remaining septuplets.

What about Jaeger? Made an early eagle, said, “come get me,” and played solid golf. Heck, it took at 64 from McCarthy for anyone to be within … oh, wait, Brandon Wu. Wu also finished on -2o, two back of Jaeger. Well, guess it was trickier than it looked. If Wu doesn’t bogey 11 and 13 on the inward half, it gets interesting. OK, not a Twilight Series installment. Jaeger wins, out.

PGA Tour Champions: Senior Players Championship

Jerry Kelly is THAT guy. Which guy? Hard to explain, Kind of an uncle, sort of a buddy, mistaken for a character played by Jack Nicholson (it’s the goatee.) Former hockey goalie, won one of the three #NikeBuffaloOpen ever played #MyHometown, and just a gritty, grinding guy. Sunday in Akron was no awakening for him. Bit of a rain delay, bit of a challenge from the chasers, let’s tough it out sort of day.

Jerry Kelly aced the 12th. Like Si Woo Kim yesterday at Wyndham, except Kelly won. He made double bogey at the 18th, and won by two. Scott Parel, his pursuer, made bogey at the last, after notching birdie at the penultimate hole. In words, it was an odd conclusion. It was not stellar golf. It was strange golf. There was Parel, thinking that 2nd would be a fine place to finish, until Kelly chunked his way to the green, then three-whacked for the six. Parel found the rough on his own, came up shy of the green, then missed for par.

The win was Kelly’s seventh on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. By my estimation, he should eclipse ten before his victory days are done. He is a solid player with a balanced approach to the game. Same goes for Parel, who currently sits on three PTC wins. He is due for a burst, any week now.