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In winning the 2020 Masters going away two weekends ago, Dustin Johnson bolstered an already-stellar résumé. He also put an indelible mark on what already was destined to be a memorable chapter in Augusta National history.
In the process, Johnson also helped seal a transition of power in the men’s game. A changing of the guard is natural, Ron Green Jr. tells us, and Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka have made it happen with their major championship successes.
On the course last weekend, it took two extra holes for Robert Streb to become the first two-time winner of the RSM Classic. By tapping in for birdie after nearly holing his approach, he prevented Kevin Kisner from claiming the same slice of event notoriety.
When the R&A hosted a virtual Women’s Leadership Forum last week, Annika Sörenstam and Renee Powell picked up on an enthusiastic current after new technology was discussed that will help women gain a sense of belonging in the game. Lewine Mair takes note of what could be on tap in the near future.
Meanwhile, the LPGA picked back up in the Tampa Bay area in Florida after a short break, and Sei Young Kim picked up where she left off last month when she won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Aronimink. Kim won the Pelican Women’s Championship by three strokes for her 12th LPGA victory.
Working through some dodgy weather in South Africa, the European Tour’s Joburg Open went to Denmark’s Joachim B. Hansen. His maiden victory on the circuit arrived with a birdie-free 67 on Sunday to overcome 54-hole leader and home favorite Wilco Nienaber.
Jamie Nieto has thrived as a PGA professional in Illinois for more than a decade, a testament to his perseverance as well as his skills. As Sean Fairholm describes, Nieto has been inspiring in facing down physical trauma and overcoming it.
Something to look for in the 2021 season: A new competition for top-shelf college golfers. The Stephens Cup – named for Jackson T. Stephens, chairman of Augusta National in the 1990s – will begin play in October.
Among the many impacts he had on amateur golfers during his lifetime, former USGA president Sandy Tatum considered mentorship of underserved youth one that built on a central tenet of what is possible the game. Sean Fairholm explains that the Sandy’s Circle program that Tatum inspired at the First Tee of San Francisco delivers on that promise.
And in this week’s installment of the Divot, Steve Eubanks spotlights a new viewing option that debuted for the 2020 Masters to rave reviews (at least among the GGP staff). The “My Group” feature at masters.com allowed viewers to program for themselves. How far we’ve come. These days, people have the power.
Finally, as we close in on wrapping up our round, if you will, for this extraordinary year, a note about the Global Golf Post publication schedule for the next few weeks:
The next edition of GGP will go live on Monday, Dec. 7 – 14 days from today. It’s an unusual two-week interval for us that goes hand in hand with extending weekly publication through Dec. 21, to cover the end of the LPGA season. In the meantime, everyone here wishes everyone in our readership and beyond a safe and enjoyable two weeks.
Sam Dolson
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