Max Greyserman has climbed to No. 31 in the world rankings and has a chance to return to the Masters next year if he stays in the top 50 over the coming months. However, the second-place situation is becoming frustrating. In his 53 starts over two years, he has accumulated five second-place finishes, most recently at the Baycurrent Classic, where Xander Schauffele edged him out. Schauffele birdied the 17th hole to take a two-shot lead, while Greyserman was just six inches off the hole after a 7-iron shot from 187 yards.
“It’s more of the same,” Greyserman said. “I feel like I executed well, but I didn’t play well enough.”
There's no PGA Tour activity this week, and the 30-year-old might benefit from talking to his Florida neighbor, Cameron Young. Young had seven runner-up finishes in three years, five of them as a rookie when he came close to winning two majors, before achieving his first victory at this year's Wyndham Championship. The two share similarities, mainly that another player has been better. Young averaged 67.5 in his six runner-up finishes (the other came in match play). Greyserman, meanwhile, closed with a 65 in Japan and is averaging 65.8 in his five runner-up finishes.
Greyserman has earned $4,210,400, more than half of his career earnings, thanks to those second-place finishes, though that's little more than consolation. “I could take this a few ways,” he reflected. “Another second-place finish would be one option. Disappointment would be another. But on the other hand, I can say I played really well. I shot a 65 on Sunday when I was tied for the lead and in the last group, so there's a lot to like about it.”
“I don't really know how to feel because, obviously, I'm very disappointed. But it's the PGA Tour. You need to play exceptionally well on a Sunday to win a golf tournament. I played very well, but I just didn't do it enough.”
Jon Rahm's winless year
Jon Rahm faces his longest hiatus yet at the end of the year, with much to reflect on. He was part of another Ryder Cup-winning team and won the LIV Golf individual title for the second consecutive year. However, this was his first full year as a professional without a victory. Rahm finished runner-up four times at LIV Golf and finished no better than a tie for seventh in the three European Tour events and four majors he entered.
His only chance to win outside of LIV came at the PGA Championship, where he briefly tied with Scottie Scheffler on Sunday before fading on the final round, culminating with a bogey, double bogey, and another bogey. In Spain, where he tied for ninth at the Spanish Open, he announced he won't play again until the LIV Golf season opener in Saudi Arabia, which begins February 5. "I've never had three months off, but I'm looking forward to it," Rahm said. "Other athletes have it, and we'll see.
"I'm lucky to be able to go home now, have a preseason, be a father, and be with my family. And well, if I find it's too much, maybe I won't do it next year."
The rise of Thitikul
Amid the talk of parity on the LPGA Tour this year, where there have been multiple winners in the first 25 tournaments, Jeeno Thitikul stood out with an incredible comeback. Thitikul, who started four shots behind with five holes to play, won a playoff in Shanghai against Minami Katsu, becoming the first multiple winner of the season. Her 63 on Sunday was the lowest final round by a winner.
Now, the 22-year-old Thai, who had already taken the world No. 1 ranking from Nelly Korda, has a chance to become the third player in the last seven years to sweep every major LPGA title. She holds a commanding lead in the Player of the Year award over Minjee Lee and also comfortably leads the Vare Trophy for lowest adjusted scoring average. However, Thitikul still trails Lee on the LPGA money list by $306,013.
Penge's Plans
Marco Penge, from England, has been considered a rising player who could be of interest to LIV Golf. Penge won the Spanish Open, his third European Tour title this year, and was asked about LIV's speculation. His heart is set on the PGA Tour. Penge will earn a card next year by being among the top 10 in the Race to Dubai who are not already on the PGA Tour. "Tomorrow I'm going to America with my wife to find a place to move to in January," Penge told the Spanish website Ten-Golf on Sunday.
“So, as far as I know, I'll be playing on the PGA Tour next year, and I hope to have a great season and finish in the playoffs there, then return to the DP World Tour to play the rest of the season here.” Penge expressed his desire to compete against the best players and win major titles. “I want to play in national Opens like this,” he stated. “When you win a couple of national Opens, that's something I'll never forget, and something my family won't forget either. So that's my plan.”
Triplett clings on
Kirk Triplett has been playing long enough to know that every shot counts at the end of the year. This was another reminder. He's headed to the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia to kick off the PGA Tour Champions postseason. The top 72 advance to the playoffs. Triplett, even with a double bogey on his final hole Sunday, finished 72nd, just $201 more than Brandt Jobe. It didn't have to be that close. Triplett recalled the American Family Insurance Classic, a team event he played in with Paul Broadhurst.
They were out of contention in the final round when the tournament was delayed by bad weather, and they ended up withdrawing. “I decided to withdraw because it was inconvenient. I didn't want to miss my flight,” Triplett said at the SAS Championship. “There are a couple thousand out there that would have moved me up three places… And if you're a Monday critic in this game, man, man. I tell all these young players, 'You want to see something really interesting? Take one stroke off each day's score and see how much money, what a difference it makes at the end of the year. Just one stroke.'”
Divots
Scotland's Dean Robertson has been selected to return as Walker Cup captain for Great Britain & Ireland next year at Lahinch. Robertson's team lost 17-9 to the Americans this year at Cypress Point. … Twelve of the 20 players on the Korn Ferry Tour who earned cards for the 2026 PGA Tour will be rookies. … Johnny Keefer tied for 12th at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, which left him ranked 51st in the world with just over two months remaining in the year. The top 50 qualify for the Masters later in the year.
Keefer has already qualified for the US Open after winning the Korn Ferry Tour points title.
Statistics of the week
Scottie Scheffler has had more points deducted from his world ranking this year (455,871) than Rory McIlroy has earned (422,369).
Final word
“I'm very lucky to have the best team of all. When I'm at the top, they won't praise me. But when I'm not having a good time, they'll keep pushing me up.” — Jeeno Thitikul.
