Welcome to Playing Through, your weekly guide to the world of professional golf. I’m Brendon Elliott, PGA Professional, and this week we’re in that strange liminal space between seasons. The PGA TOUR has wrapped its FedExCup Fall. The LPGA Tour has crowned its champion. But before we turn the page to 2026, there’s still meaningful golf to be played. From the return of a beloved made-for-TV event to a family tradition in Orlando, December brings its own brand of drama and joy.

PGA TOUR: THE DUST SETTLES

The Top 100 Is Set

After seven FedExCup Fall events spanning three months, we know precisely who has full playing privileges for 2026 and who’s needing to fight their way back.

Sami Valimaki’s victory at The RSM Classic last week provided the exclamation point on a fall season that rewarded both established stars and hungry newcomers. The Finnish winner became the latest first-time champion to emerge from the fall, joining Steven Fisk, Adam Schenk, and Michael Brennan in that category. Brennan’s story remains the most remarkable: winning in just his third career PGA TOUR start after dominating PGA TOUR Americas.

But the real drama played out in the standings, where every shot carried career-altering weight. Rico Hoey entered the fall at No. 106, dangerously close to losing full status. He finished at No. 54, securing spots in the first two Signature Events of 2026 through four top-10 finishes. That’s the kind of turnaround that can define a career.

The Aon Next 10, which grants access to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational, came down to Max McGreevy’s birdie putt on the 72nd hole at Sea Island. When it dropped, McGreevy vaulted to No. 60, claiming the final spot. Jordan Spieth fell to No. 61. Lee Hodges and Ryo Castillo both missed birdie putts that would have secured their spots in the top 100, leaving them with conditional status instead.

These margins matter. One putt. One hole. One week. That’s the difference between Signature Event starts and Monday qualifiers.

Five cards remain available through Q-School Final Stage next month at TPC Sawgrass. For the first time, there will be no ties for those five spots. If necessary, a playoff will determine who earns TOUR membership and who goes back to the drawing board.

The Skins Game Returns

After 17 years away, “The Skins Game” returns on the day after Thanksgiving, and the four participants have made it clear: this is about the trash talk.

Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Xander Schauffele, and Keegan Bradley will compete at Panther National in South Florida, the Jack Nicklaus and Justin Thomas co-design that’s making its television debut. The format stays true to the original, with dollar values on each hole and tied holes rolling over to raise the stakes. The twist this year is a “reverse purse” where all players start with $1 million and contribute to the pot on each hole.

The pre-tournament press conference revealed what we’re really in for. Lowry immediately went after Bradley’s Ryder Cup captaincy. Bradley fired back about not having a walkie-talkie in his hand this time. Schauffele admitted he had prepared material specifically for Justin Thomas, who withdrew after back surgery, and now has to redirect his energy elsewhere.

The dark horse might be Fleetwood, the nicest player on TOUR. “If Tommy talked trash to me in a serious way, I would curl up in a ball,” Bradley said. “I’d be so scared.”

For Bradley, who grew up watching the original Skins Game featuring legends like Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, and Fred Couples, this represents a full-circle moment. “That was the first time we’d ever seen guys interact with each other while they were playing,” he said. “It was always just a really exciting thing to look forward to.”

The match airs on “Black Friday” at 9 a.m. ET on NBC, giving golf fans something to watch during that turkey day hangover.

December Golf Continues

The PGA TOUR calendar isn’t quite finished. The Grant Thornton Invitational returns December 12-14 at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, bringing together PGA TOUR and LPGA players for a mixed-team event. Jake Knapp and Patty Tavatanakit are the defending champions.

Then comes the PNC Championship, December 18-21 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. This father-son (and father-daughter) event has become a December tradition, featuring major champions playing alongside their children. It’s the most wholesome golf you’ll see all year, and it never fails to deliver memorable moments.

LPGA TOUR: JEENO’S WORLD

A Season for the Record Books

We just witnessed something special. Jeeno Thitikul didn’t just have a great season. She had a historically dominant one that rewrote the record books and established her as the clear face of women’s golf.

The 22-year-old Thai star swept the season-ending awards: Rolex Player of the Year, the Vare Trophy, the Money Title, and the Race to the CME Globe. She became the first player since Lydia Ko in 2022 to win both Player of the Year and the Vare Trophy in the same season.

But here’s the number that matters most: her scoring average of 68.681 broke Annika Sorenstam’s 23-year-old record. Annika’s 2002 mark of 68.697 had stood through equipment advances, course improvements, and generations of talented players. Thitikul demolished it while playing against the deepest field in LPGA history.

She defended her CME Group Tour Championship title with four rounds in the 60s and just three bogeys all week. The four-stroke victory and $4 million payday capped a season that included three wins, 14 top-10 finishes in 20 starts, and just one missed cut.

“I still feel like the same human being as you guys,” Thitikul said after her CME victory. That humility, that groundedness, is what makes her special beyond the numbers.

At 22, with seven LPGA victories and a game without obvious weaknesses, she’s just getting started. The major championships will come. What we witnessed in 2025 wasn’t a breakout. It was confirmation that Jeeno Thitikul has arrived at the summit of women’s golf.

What’s Next

The LPGA Tour season is complete, but, as with the PGA TOUR, December brings one more event. The Grant Thornton Invitational pairs LPGA stars with PGA TOUR players for a unique mixed-team format that’s become a fan favorite.

Then it’s time to reset, recharge, and prepare for 2026. The LPGA Tour will return in January with a schedule that promises more depth, more competition, and more opportunities for the next generation to chase the standard Thitikul has set.

As we head into the holidays, professional golf enters its quietest period. But quiet doesn’t mean dormant. Players are working, preparing, and dreaming about what’s possible when the calendar turns.

For some, 2025 ended on a high note. For others, it ended with hard lessons and renewed motivation. That’s the beauty of this game. Every season offers a fresh start, a new opportunity to prove yourself.

Welcome to the bridge between seasons. Let’s play through.