Curtis Luck finds the winner’s circle and 2 other stories you might’ve missed

curtis luck with trophy

Curtis Luck had missed the last three cuts before his victory in Columbus.

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While Dustin Johnson dominated in Boston and Sophia Popov shocked the world, there were other untold stories playing out in golf. Here are three stories you might’ve missed.

No caddie? No problem

With new protocols in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the LPGA Tour lifted their requirement for players to use caddies for the remainder of the season. While most decided to keep their loopers on the bag, Lindsey Weaver decided to go against the grain and use a pushcart instead.

The trusty trolley served her well throughout August as she made three cuts leading up to the Women’s Open, so the pushcart made the trip to Royal Troon as well. Weaver continued her steady play across the pond as she contended for much of the week, ultimately finishing T19.

The finish at the Women’s Open was her second top 20 of the season and earned Weaver her largest paycheck of the year.

“I feel like it’s kind of back to the basics,” Weaver said. “This is how junior golf was. This is how college golf was and on the Symetra Tour when I played there for a year … I mean, it’s still just golf.”

10 more earn U.S. Open exemptions

With local and sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open rendered logistically impossible in 2020, the USGA went with an all-exemption model to fill the field. Many of these spots have already been filled, but this weekend 10 more exemptions were handed out at the conclusion of the European Tour’s UK Swing. The top 10 aggregate points earners punched their tickets to Winged Foot thanks to their play over the last several weeks.

Those exempt players are Sam Horsfield of England, Thomas Detry of Belgium, Andy Sullivan of England, Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark, No. 5 Renato Paratore of Italy, Romain Langasque of France, Sami Valimaki of Finland, Adrian Otaegui of Spain, Connor Syme of Scotland and Justin Harding of South Africa.

Of the group, Horsfield, Sullivan, Paratore, Langasque and Harding are making return appearances in the U.S. Open, while the other five are making their debuts in the event.

Curtis Luck finds the winner’s circle

The last month for Curtis Luck has been a struggle on the golf course, but you wouldn’t know it based on his play in Columbus last weekend. Luck won the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, his first career victory on the Korn Ferry Tour and his first top 10 of the season on the development tour.

Luck fired a final-round 71 to finish 11 under and hold off a trio of challengers by a stroke for the victory. The win earns him status on KFT through 2022, puts him in excellent position to earn a promotion back to the PGA Tour, and gives him an exemption into the 2021 Memorial Tournament. Not a bad haul.

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Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.