Japanese Giant and the Old Conquistador

Two events, two marquee champions.

Two beautiful venues, both very different.

The PGA Tour and European Tour both hosted star-studded fields this week in their respective tournaments. The Waste Management Phoenix Open on TOUR broke the record for highest attendance, and the Dubai Desert Classic had the biggest star of all in their field.

Super Bowl? What Super Bowl?

Just before kick-off, the focus of the sports world was on TPC Scottsdale, and just like the game in Houston later that night, this one went into "overtime."

Hideki Matsuyama and Webb Simpson couldn't settle the tournament in 72 holes, so they played a few extra.

Hideki had a chance to win on the final hole in regulation,

Hideki ... for the win ... #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/Ko6BgPbB6x

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 5, 2017

and Webb had a chance to win on the 3rd playoff hole,

Webb ... for the win ...

It's a game of inches.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/W4U7svlwVz

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 5, 2017

but FINALLY, Matsuyama finished Simpson off with a birdie on the 4th extra hole.

He knew it all the way. pic.twitter.com/QKFyUm3Gwb

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 6, 2017

With the win, Matsuyama has 5.....FIVE wins in NINE starts worldwide, becoming the winningest Japanese-born player in PGA Tour history.

OSU product Rickie Fowler finished T-4th, Jordan Spieth finished T-9th, and rookie Spaniard sensation Jon Rahm finished T-16th.

Dubai Desert Classic

Speaking of Spain, didn't I mention there was a new conquistador in town?

Maybe I spoke too soon.

Old dog Sergio Garcia went wire-to-wire in the desert to claim his 12th European title.

The top headline coming into the week was Tiger Woods playing in the event, but he withdrew before the 2nd round, leaving Serg in the spotlight.

Garcia opened the final round with a three-shot lead, and finished with that margin over Swede Henrik Stenson.

A Look Back (Continued)

That was fun wasn't it?

So much fun, in fact, that we are going to finish off this look back right now.

Hero World Challenge
December 1-4
Winner: Hideki Matsuyama

The big story this week was the return of Tiger Woods to professional golf. Though not recognized as an official PGA Tour event, the field in the Hero is world class, making it a great way for the former world #1 to see where his game stood.

Woods played well early, staying on the first page of the leader board for most of the first three days before fading late, settling for a 15th place finish in the 17 man field, even though he led the tournament in birdies.

The extra eyes on Woods turned attention away from the rising Japanese star, who won his fourth tournament in five starts. A final round 73 still gave him a two shot victory over Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

SBS Tournament of Champions
January 5-8
Winner: Justin Thomas

There's that name again. Justin Thomas put on quite the show in Maui, and it wasn't all that close. Thomas faltered a bit early in the back nine on Sunday, but pulled away late en route to a final round 69, giving him a three shot win over the red-hot Hideki Matsuyama.

Thomas fired four straight rounds in the 60s, and although he couldn't match his buddy Jordan Spieth's tourney record of -30, he still played solid, and would continue that fantastic play in the next event.

Sony Open in Hawaii
January 12-15
Winner: Justin Thomas

Again? Geez, go ahead young fella. JT completed the Hawaii sweep, first time since Ernie Els did it back in 2003, and did so in record-setting fashion.

He didn't wait long to get started, Thomas opened the tournament with the magic number 59, a score only a select few have ever reached(Adam Hadwin would do it the next week at the CareerBuilder Challenge.)

JT didn't stop there. A five-under 65 on Sunday gave him a total score of -27(253), which is the new 72-hole scoring record. In doing so, Thomas won the tournament by an astonishing SEVEN shots.

There it is. You're all caught up on the big story lines thus far in the PGA Tour season. From this point forward, it will be all about the present. Keep hitting it in the fairway!