PGA Tour "Fall Series Ends"... What Is the Next Stage?

'COVID-19' Impact: US Open and Masters Join Major 'Super Season', Tour Resumes January 7 Next Year at Sentry Tournament

World No. 319 Stuart Sink sparked an 'underdog uprising' by winning the 2021 season opener Safeway Open.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] 'Early bird'.

The PGA Tour in the United States immediately starts the next season right after the final third playoff (PO) event, the Tour Championship, held every September. This is to counter the expansion of the European Tour. In 2020 as well, the 2021 season kicked off early at the Safeway Open. Until the end of the year, it is called the 'fall series'. World stars usually enjoy their vacation and then appear at the 'champion of champions' Sentry Tournament held in Hawaii in January of the following year.

It is interesting that the trend has been changing since last year. The schedule was expanded from 8 to 11 tournaments, growing the 'stage'. The only PGA Tour event in Korea, The CJ Cup, is at the center of this. Three consecutive weeks of 'Asian premium matches' followed, including the Japan Zozo Championship and the China World Golf Championships (WGC) series HSBC Champions, with winners such as Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods (both from the U.S.), and Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), drawing even more spotlight.

Moreover, Woods tied the PGA Tour record for most wins (82 wins) held by golf legend Sam Snead at the Zozo Championship. Due to the impact of COVID-19 this year, the number of tournaments he participated in dropped significantly (to 9), preventing him from reaching 83 wins, which was a disappointment. The CJ Cup and Zozo Championship moved to the U.S., where Jason Kokrak and Patrick Cantlay (both from the U.S.) claimed victories, keeping the 'fall series' heated.

The 2021 season was a 'super season' with majors like the US Open and Masters, which had been postponed due to COVID-19, joining the schedule. The September US Open especially drew attention as 'The Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau (U.S.) was the only player to finish under par (6 under par, 274 strokes) at the notoriously difficult Winged Foot Golf Club (par 70, 7,477 yards) in Mamaroneck, New York. His 'bulk up' by gaining 18 kg led him to become the longest hitter on the PGA Tour (337.8 yards), sparking a 'long drive craze'.

The November 'Fall Masters' saw world number one Dustin Johnson (U.S.) set the tournament record low score (20 under par, 268 strokes). It is noteworthy that he achieved 'win - runner-up - win' in the three PO events in August and September. With 3 wins in his last 6 tournaments, it was truly 'Johnson's reign'. This was accompanied by off-course news that he had recovered from a COVID-19 diagnosis before The CJ Cup. Im Sung-jae (22, CJ Logistics) finished as runner-up, raising expectations for a major victory.

On relatively lower-profile stages like the Safeway Open, 'lower-ranked upsets' unfolded with players such as world number 319 Stewart Cink. Hudson Swafford (345th) won the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship, Martin Laird (351st) won the October Shriners Children's Open, Brian Gay (328th) won the Bermuda Championship, and Robert Streb (380th) won the RSM Classic, all from the U.S., achieving 'life turnarounds'. Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)'s surprise victory at the November Houston Open was a highlight.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.