October 28 belongs to distinguished amateurs, Ryder Cup veterans and winners across the world. But one Sunday stands apart: in 2018, three young Americans collected trophies in three different tournaments—two of them for the first time.
1938
Gary Cowan is born
Canadian amateur great Gary Cowan was born on October 28. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1966 and 1971, captured the 1961 Canadian Amateur and earned low-amateur honors at the 1964 Masters. [Golf Canada]
Cowan was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1972 and later named the country’s male amateur golfer of the 20th century.
1953
Mark James is born
Mark James was born in Manchester, England, on October 28. He won 18 times on the European Tour, represented Great Britain and Ireland or Europe in seven Ryder Cups and captained the European team at Brookline in 1999. [DP World Tour]
2012
Peter Hanson holds off Rory McIlroy in Shanghai
Peter Hanson won the inaugural BMW Masters at Lake Malaren Golf Club for his sixth European Tour title. His 21-under 267 total was one stroke better than Rory McIlroy and gave the Swede his second win of the 2012 season. [DP World Tour]
2012
Suzann Pettersen completes back-to-back wins
One week after winning the LPGA KEB·HanaBank Championship, Suzann Pettersen won the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship by five strokes over world No. 1 Inbee Park. It was the second title in a two-week run that restored Pettersen to the LPGA winner’s circle. [LPGA]
2018
Nelly Korda earns her first LPGA title
Korda closed with a bogey-free 68 to win the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship at 13 under, two strokes clear of Minjee Lee. The victory made Nelly and Jessica Korda the third pair of sisters to win on the LPGA Tour. [LPGA]
2018
Xander Schauffele wins with three straight birdies
Schauffele birdied Nos. 17 and 18 to force a playoff with Tony Finau, then birdied the par-5 18th again to win the WGC-HSBC Champions. His final-round 68 was the day’s lowest score, and the victory was the third of his PGA Tour career. [PGA Tour]
2018
Cameron Champ answers the pressure with five late birdies
Champ surrendered a four-shot lead before birdieing five of the final six holes to win the Sanderson Farms Championship. He closed with 68, finished at 21-under 267 and beat Corey Conners by four for his first PGA Tour title. [PGA Tour]
FROM THE ARCHIVE TO YOUR NEXT ROUND / FOX BANDIT VIEW
Give the final six balls a purpose.
Champ birdied five of his last six holes. Schauffele made three straight birdies when every swing carried weight. Korda finished a bogey-free round to secure her first title. Their endings were different, but each required commitment after the result became real.
Recreate a small version of that pressure at the end of a range session. Save six balls. Choose a different target for each one, run your full routine and score one point for a committed decision and one for the intended start line.
The shot result matters, but the routine matters first. The goal is to finish practice by making decisions—not by emptying the bucket.
Use the practice checklist ↗