Three Continents, Three Champions, One Unforgettable Week: Golf’s October Brilliance Continues
In this week’s “The Starter,” PGA professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, gives his thoughts on the week that was in golf for R.org. From Schauffele’s emotional homecoming in Japan to Penge’s playoff heroics in Spain and Thitikul’s dramatic five-hole playoff victory in China, it was a jam-packed week of golfing brilliance across three continents.
The second week of October delivered everything we love about professional golf. A major champion rediscovering his form in his mother’s homeland. A journeyman claiming his third DP World Tour title in dramatic fashion. And the world’s top-ranked player staging a comeback for the ages in a five-hole playoff thriller. From Japan to Spain to China, the game’s elite proved once again why this sport captivates across the globe.
PGA TOUR: Schauffele’s Emotional Homecoming in Japan
A Victory 15 Years in the Making
Xander Schauffele just authored the most meaningful victory of his decorated career.
The two-time major champion returned to Japan, where his mother grew up and his maternal grandparents still reside, and captured the Baycurrent Classic with a one-stroke victory over Max Greyserman. His final-round 64 at Yokohama Country Club completed a 19-under 265 performance that marked his 10th career PGA TOUR title in his 200th start.
“I’ve been coming here since I was about 9 years old to visit my grandparents,” Schauffele said after his triumph. “I sort of fell in love with this country a long time ago. I can’t wait to bring my son here when he’s old enough to sort of understand and appreciate the culture here in Japan.”
The victory carried profound personal significance. Schauffele’s 81-year-old grandmother walked the course with him during the week. His mother has roots in Chinese Taipei and grew up in Japan. His mother-in-law is Japanese, and his wife Maya is half Japanese and grew up in Okinawa.
Ending the Drought
The week also marked Schauffele’s first victory since The Open Championship in July 2024. A drought that had him questioning himself despite his consistent excellence. An injury at the beginning of 2025 forced him to the sidelines for two months. He missed the TOUR Championship for the first time in his career. Doubts crept in.
“I have a really good team around me; they pick me up when I’m down,” Schauffele admitted. “You know, this is really special for me. Sooner than I thought, to be fair. I was running out of events in 2025 to sort of put my mark on it.”
Schauffele started strong Sunday with three birdies in his first six holes. The back nine became a tense battle with Greyserman, who was seeking his first PGA TOUR victory after finishing runner-up at this same event a year ago. Greyserman’s approach on the 72nd hole missed forcing a playoff by just one inch from 182 yards. Schauffele calmly two-putted on 18 to seal the victory.
The 31-year-old becomes the 119th player in PGA TOUR history to reach 10 wins and moved from No. 4 to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He also extended his streak of consecutive cuts made to 72, the longest active streak on TOUR.
DP World Tour: Penge’s Playoff Heroics in Madrid
Holding On By His Fingertips
Marco Penge wasn’t going to let a four-shot lead slip away without a fight.
The Englishman birdied the first playoff hole to defeat Dan Brown and claim the Open de España presented by Madrid, his third DP World Tour victory of the season. The triumph at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid earned him invitations to both The Open Championship and the Masters in 2026.
Penge began the final round with a four-shot advantage but immediately stumbled with a bogey after sending his opening drive into the trees. Brown responded with a spectacular 55-foot birdie putt at the second, then promptly rolled in another from 37 feet for eagle at the third, closing within one shot of the lead.
A Three-Way Battle
Joel Girrbach, the third member of the final group, joined the drama. He reached 14-under at the ninth to tie for the lead, gave the shot back at the 10th, then birdied the 11th to restore parity.
Brown received treatment for his right shoulder and neck on the 12th tee, where Penge made his first birdie of the day. Brown looked on the verge of withdrawing after talking to an official and waiting for further attention on the 13th fairway, but bravely continued and hit a superb approach to set up a birdie. Another followed at the 15th despite clear discomfort.
All three players birdied the 16th and parred the 17th, leaving Penge one up heading to 18. But he could only make par from a bunker as Brown’s birdie forced the playoff. In the playoff, both left themselves testing birdie putts after their chips, with Penge holing from around 10 feet to claim victory.
“I was getting a little frustrated at times but I was reminding myself I was so patient the first three rounds, and that’s the reason I played the way I did,” Penge said. “Credit to the lads, they did unbelievable to catch me, and I’m just very grateful that I can be the one that wins.”
His Masters invitation particularly excited him. “It’s crazy. It’s a golf course that I’ve always wanted to play, because I feel like my game sets up really good for it,” he said.
LPGA Tour: Thitikul’s Dramatic Playoff Victory in Shanghai
Redemption After Heartbreak
Jeeno Thitikul just proved she’s the most resilient player on the LPGA Tour.
The world No. 1 from Thailand came from four shots down with five holes to play, then outlasted Minami Katsu in a five-hole playoff to win the Buick LPGA Shanghai. Her final-round 63 completed a 24-under 264 performance at Qizhong Garden Golf Club.
More importantly, Thitikul became the first two-time winner on the LPGA Tour in 2025, breaking a remarkable streak of 26 different winners in 25 events.
The victory carried special significance after Thitikul’s inexplicable four-putt meltdown on the final hole at the Kroger Queen City Championship last month cost her the title.
“Definitely cried a lot. Not going lie, cried quite a lot,” Thitikul admitted when asked about her recovery process. “And then I do have like, you know, a really amazing off week, which is we spend time with no golf in Canada and then just like remind me that whatever it’s happen, it’s the past.”
The Comeback
Katsu, who began the day two shots ahead and extended that to four after the 13th, appeared destined for victory. But Thitikul reeled off birdies on the 14th, 15th, and 16th before producing an incredible eagle at the 17th to draw level.
Katsu had a birdie chance on the final hole to win, but the ball slid past, forcing the playoff.
Pars through the first four playoff holes included Katsu having two birdie putts to win, only to narrowly miss on both occasions. On the fifth playoff hole, Thitikul’s brilliant approach placed the ball three feet away while Katsu’s second shot fell short of the green at the par-4 18th.
Katsu’s chip for birdie missed, leaving Thitikul a simple birdie putt to close out a remarkable victory nearly two years after losing in an epic nine-hole playoff to Celine Boutier at the LPGA Malaysia.
The Bigger Picture: Golf’s Global Excellence
One week. Three continents. Three stories of perseverance and triumph.
Schauffele celebrated a deeply personal victory in his mother’s homeland, ending a year-long drought while his grandmother watched. Penge held his nerve through a playoff after watching a four-shot lead evaporate, earning his ticket to Augusta. Thitikul proved her mental fortitude by erasing a four-shot deficit and outlasting Katsu in a marathon playoff just weeks after a crushing defeat.
This is golf at its finest: champions rising to the moment on the sport’s global stage, where every tournament matters and every victory tells its own compelling story.