PROGRAMMING NOTE: It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the TFE crew will be taking a quick break from the newsletter. Aside from our year-end wrap-up next week, we will be off until Wednesday, January 6. In the meantime, we’ll be working on some exciting new projects that we can’t wait to share with you. Happy holidays, everyone!

Hark! Winter solstice and the shortest day of the year are upon us. There’s only more daylight and more golf ahead of us. Rejoice!

Grand finale

At the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship, many of the top players in the game found their strides on the weekend, including world No. 1 Jin Young Ko and No. 2 Sei Young Kim. Paired together for the final round of the season, Ko and Kim were tied for the lead going into the back nine on Sunday. That’s when Ko turned on the afterburners, birdieing five of her final seven holes for a five-shot victory. CME Group Tour Championship Results

It was nothing short of a dominant performance from Jin Young Ko. She tied Jessica Korda for the second best round of the day, and her 66 was the lowest score by anyone who was within four shots of the lead after 54 holes. Ko finished her abbreviated 2020 LPGA Tour season with three top fives in four starts. She’s the best player in the women’s game right now, and only Sei Young Kim appears particularly close.

But even more impressive than Ko’s victory is the collective performance of the LPGA Tour since its return at the end of July. The past five months of women’s golf have brought us Danielle Kang’s Ohio double-dip, Sophia Popov’s cinderella story, Sei Young Kim’s major breakthrough, a loaded ANA Inspiration playoff, Mel Reid’s first stateside victory, wins from veterans Angela Stanford and Stacy Lewis, and A Lim Kim’s clutch finish at the U.S. Women’s Open. It wasn’t the season anyone imagined, but the LPGA Tour put on an impressive show nonetheless.

Father/son

Three miles north of the CME, the PNC Championship took place at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. Betting favorites (yes, people bet on this event) Justin Thomas and father Mike fired a second-round 57 to come from four shots behind and edge Vijay Singh and son Qass. In the scramble format on Sunday, Team Thomas birdied all but three holes. PNC Championship Results

Another pairing will dominate fans’ memories of this event, however. While the flood of Tiger and Charlie Woods content on social media became tiresome, seeing the two tee it up together was good, wholesome fun. Whether he was celebrating an incredible 5-wood or playing a practical joke on Justin Thomas or throwing a vintage Woods fist pump, 11-year-old Charlie seemed to be enjoying himself. We hope everyone will bear in mind that he’s not yet in middle school, and that most kids cycle through many different sports and interests, but he and his dad charmed us this weekend.

Quick Hooks

With a T-2 finish at the CME Group Tour Championship, Sei Young Kim locked up the 2020 LPGA Tour Player of the Year award. She finished T-20 or better in all 10 of her appearances and won back-to-back events this fall at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the Pelican Women’s Championship.

The LPGA Tour announced its 2021 schedule over the weekend. More than 30 events are scheduled across three continents, with a record $76.45 million in prize money at stake.

The R&A will fill some spots at the 2021 Open Championship via new exemption categories rather than the typical Open Qualifying Series, which gives spots to high finishers in tour events. Full Story from Brentley Romine

Playing on a puzzling sponsor exemption from CME Group CEO Terry Duffy, Natalie Gulbis posted rounds of 78-77-78-80 at the CME Group Tour Championship. She finished nine shots behind the second-to-last-place finisher and 42 shots behind Jin Young Ko.

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Don’t wait for grandma to put some low-grade sweater under the tree. Grab yourself a Fried Egg or Shotgun Start crewneck from B. Draddy! It will become your go-to layer in no time.