Around The Links: 2013-2014 PGA Season Gets Underway

The 2013-2014 PGA Golf season is something new to the golf community. No longer does the Fall Season only provide a place where the lesser known journeyman golfers can make enough money to retain their tour cards, but is now, truly the start to the new season with bona-fide FedEx Cup points, and Masters invitations on the line in six of the tournaments. Now the Fall Season has meaning, money and status. The Frys.com Open kicked-off the new season this past weekend, and Jimmy Walker becomes the first, first-time winner of the new season, and now has an invitation to Augusta in April.

Jimmy Walker wins PGA Tour season opener

The Texan had a 17-under 267 total and earned $900,000 for his two-stroke victory.

"“This was the final steppingstone,” said Walker, who has played on more tours than he can remember to get to the big leagues."

Englishman Lynn claims Portugal Masters to win first Tour title since 2004

European Tour journeyman, Englishman David Lynn wins the last stop on the European continent for the 2013 season. The tour moves South  for the remainder of the year, and will have a stop in Australia next week for the final tournament before the Race To Dubai playoffs get underway the following week in Shanghai.

"A successful rookie year on the PGA Tour in America has ended with Englishman David Lynn returning to Europe and showing everyone exactly what he has learned.The late developer from Stoke posted a marvellous final round eight-under 63 in a testing breeze to claim the Portugal Masters on Sunday."

Thompson’s win has future of LPGA looking bright

Teenagers are starting to take over the LPGA Tour as the 2013 season winds down. Lexi Thompson picked up the second win of her young career at the SIME Darby LPGA Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday afternoon. With 16 year-old Lydia Ko filing for special age exemptions to join the LPGA, this past week, the future of the Tour looks great. Can Lexi Thompson be the badly needed American super-star the tour needs to grab a larger audience here at home?

"“Words can’t even describe the feeling I have right now,” Thompson told reporters after winning Sunday. “It’s sort of like a rerun from Navistar.”"

Golf’s Rory McIlroy dumps tennis golden girl as form dips

Is this the step Rory McIlroy needed to take in order to return to golf’s elite? McIlroy not only switched his equipment out at the start of the year, but trying to keep up with Miss Wozniacki around the world had to take a toll on the youngster, and left very little time to hone his golf game. He found out the hard way that talent will only take you so far in professional golf, hard work and dedication will help keep you on top once you get there.

"Sources close to the 24-year-old golfing prodigy said there was no way back for their pair this time however, saying he had made his mind up that his game had to come first."

You can follow Les on Twitter @Spin_47 and in the Golf Community at Google +