During Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship week, the DP World Tour set up the Hero Challenge on the seventh hole of Yas Links. What was the challenge? Make a 139-yard putt.
Over 65 players in the field participated in the Hero Challenge, including Tommy Fleetwood, Min Woo Lee, Robert MacIntyre and Justin Rose. But it was David Micheluzzi who poured it in.
The 139-yard make broke the world record by five yards and Micheluzzi now holds a Guinness World Record title.
The 28-year-old Australian made the putt with his second attempt. He’s playing in this week’s Australian Open and is tied for 33rd through three rounds.
Watch Micheluzzi’s incredible putt — and epic celebration — below.
Well, for one DP World Tour rookie making his first professional start, he wasn’t given any slack.
Jacob Skov Olesen was assessed a one-shot penalty during the first round of the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship on Thursday for slow play. Olesen, the 2024 British Amateur champion, advanced via DP World Tour Q-School to earn his card and was making his pro debut in the tour’s 2024-25 season opener at Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane.
Olesen, 25, took 130 seconds to hit his approach shot into the 10th hole. That’s more than three times the allotted time (40 seconds) to hit a shot once it’s a player’s turn. Olesen made bogey on the hole and opened in 3-over 74.
With the uproar recently on pace of play, perhaps the penalty is a sign the tours are going to crack down more in the coming months.
While most golfers won’t mind paying fines for being slow on a shot, every single one will speed up when valuable strokes are on the line.
However, according to the report, Garcia has decided to pay his fines and serve his suspension. He is expected to be eligible for competition beginning in 2025.
In a statement provided to bunkered, a DP World Tour spokesperson said: “Sergio Garcia submitted his application to return to membership of the DP World Tour for the 2025 season ahead of the deadline on Sunday November 17.”
Last year, Garcia finished third in LIV Golf’s season-long individual standings and picked up a win in his native Spain at Valderrama.
Once he pays his fines and serves the suspension, he can return to play for the DP World Tour and officially be eligible for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. During his career, Garcia has compiled a 25-13-7 record in the Ryder Cup.
Last month, at a “One Year Out” Ryder Cup press conference, European captain Luke Donald said this about Garcia: “He thinks he can play. He wants to play. I don’t think he has talked to me about being an assistant captain, but again, he would have to re-join the tour for him to be eligible. He’s certainly very interested in doing that. He understands everything that’s involved and again, the decision has to go to him whether he’s prepared to do all that.
“If you fulfill the regulations and the rules that the DP World Tour set, then you’re eligible. There’s a bunch of LIV guys that play on LIV who are eligible now so that I can pick them at will.”
For his efforts, McIlroy will bank $3,000,000 out of the $10 million purse.
Rory McIlroy is ending the season on top.
The 35-year-old captured the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday, winning the season-ending event for the third time in his career. More impressive is the win secured the season-long Race to Dubai title for the sixth time in McIlroy’s career, tying him with legend Seve Ballesteros for second-most all-time in DP World Tour history.
For his efforts, McIlroy will bank $3 million out of the $10 million purse.
Here’s a look at the prize money payouts for every golfer at the DP World Tour Championship.
“He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”
A tumultuous year for Rory McIlroy has ended on top.
The 35-year-old from Northern Ireland birdied two of his final three holes Sunday at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai to win the 2024 DP World Tour Championship for the third more. Even more significant, McIlroy’s win gave him the Race to Dubai title for the sixth time, tying him with Seve Ballesteros for the second most in DP World Tour history. Colin Montgomerie has the most with eight.
“I’ve been through a lot this year professionally, personally. It feels like the fitting end to 2024,” McIlroy said. “You know, yeah, look, I’ve persevered this year a lot. Had close calls. Wasn’t able to get it done.
“So the to be able to get over the line, you know … really pleased with the way I finished and thankfully I hung on on a tough day and got it done.”
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland smiles with his Wife, Erica Stoll and Daughter, Poppy McIlroy alongside the DP World Tour Championship trophy and the Race to Dubai trophy on the 18th green following victory on day four of the DP World Tour Championship 2024 at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 17, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
McIlroy earned $3 million for the victory, finishing at 15 under for the week and topping Rasmus Hojgaard by two shots. McIlroy was the only golfer in the field to shoot in the 60s every round, and closing in 69 was enough for his biggest win of the year.
And on top of everything, matching Ballesteros’ record is something that brought McIlroy to tears when discussing.
“Yeah, it’s really cool,” McIlroy said. “I think everyone know what is Seve means to European golf and to Ryder Cup players. European Ryder Cup locker room, all we have are quotes of Seve. We had a changing room with Seve’s shirt from ’95, the last Ryder Cup he played. He means so much to European golf and for me to be mentioned in the same breath, I’m very proud.”
Shane Lowry and Adam Scott were in a group that finished T-3 and four shots back. Tyrrell Hatton came in solo sixth at 10 under.
But the day, and the season, belonged to McIlroy. And if he’s still winning season-long races during what many would believe to be an “off” year, who knows what’s to come for world No. 3.
“It’s been a long year, my 27th tournament, which is a lot to me,” he said. “Looking forward to a little bit of downtime. Have a lot of friends and my family here in Dubai, so I’m sure we’ll have a good night tonight.”
“Hopefully, things fall my way and I’m able to stand on that 18th green with both trophies.”
With 18 holes remaining in Dubai, Rory McIlroy is among the co-leaders at the season-ending 2024 DP World Tour Championship. With a win — or an 11th-place finish or better — McIlroy will claim his third straight Race to Dubai title and sixth overall. (The Race to Dubai is the DP World Tour’s equivalent of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup.) Rasmus Hojgaard and Antoine Rozner are tied with the Northern Irishman at 12 under.
During a pre-tournament press conference earlier this week, McIlroy was asked to grade his season: “It would be a pass, it wouldn’t be a pass with flying colors,” he said with a slight chuckle. “But, um, probably a B.”
Now, he has a chance to finish the year with another win and maybe improve his grade a bit.
“It’s a great opportunity to end the year on a really high note,” McIlroy said. “Going to go out there tomorrow and give it everything I can and hopefully things fall my way and I’m able to stand on that 18th green with both trophies.”
The world No. 3 poured in six birdies on Saturday, along with two bogeys, to sign for a 4-under 68. He had a chance to enter the final round with the outright lead, but his birdie bid rudely lipped out on the par-5 closer.
Hojgaard made six birdies in a seven-hole stretch on his front nine to make the turn with a 6-under 30. However, he made nine pars on the way home and signed for a 66. Rozner’s finish was a little more dramatic, as he struck his second shot to eight feet on the par-5 18th and drained the eagle putt to finish off his 3-under 69.
“I think the eagle on (the) last helped me big time,” Rozner said. “I’m happy with my day overall. I didn’t produce my best golf of the week so far but I was always hanging in there. I managed to hole a couple putts on the back nine that were big for me.”
Two LIV Golf members, Joaquin Niemann and Tyrrell Hatton, are in the mix heading into the final round. Niemann is 10 under and tied for fourth, while Hatton is 9 under and alone in sixth.
Sunday’s winner will earn $3 million and 2,000 Race to Dubai points.
It feels like things are back to normal in the golf world when Tyrrell Hatton shows his fangs in a big spot.
Ah, it feels like things are back to normal in the golf world when Tyrrell Hatton shows his fangs in a big spot.
On Friday at the DP World Tour Championship, Hatton had pulled to just one shot off the lead at the season finale, being played at Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course.
That’s when microphones picked him up saying how little he enjoys playing the 18th hole, a par-5 that played at 611 yards.
“I despise everything about this hole,” he was overheard saying. “A truly awful golf hole.”
😤 Tyrrell Hatton: “I despise everything about this hole. A truly awful golf hole.” 🤣
Hatton went on to make par, finishing the day with a 3-under 69 and he now sits at 8 under through 36 holes, tied with Rory McIlroy for second and just a shot behind leader Antonie Rozner.
Although he was clearly disappointed with his play, Hatton admitted he’s still in a great position heading into the weekend.
Tyrrell Hatton of England plays his second shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the DP World Tour Championship 2024 at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 14, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
“Three under is a pretty acceptable score all things considered but naturally you want to be better, so I guess it’s fair to say I’m pretty frustrated,” he said. “Taking the positives from two days where I don’t feel like I’ve played the kind of golf I’m capable of and I’m one shot off the lead.
“Hopefully, I can find something and hit it a little bit better and that will make this weekend more exciting for me but I’ll go out there and give it my best over the next few days and just hope something clicks.”
Of course, Hatton’s on-course antics have long been a source of amusement.
In a hilarious video posted by the European Tour back in 2021, Hatton admitted to being an “angry golfer.”
McIlroy needs just an 11th-place finish to win the season-long race.
To win his third straight DP World Tour Race to Dubai title, Rory McIlroy needs just an 11th-place finish at this week’s DP World Tour Championship.
After the first day of play at Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course, it certainly appears the world’s third-ranked player won’t settle for a finish that low.
Showing off a revamped backswing he spent weeks working on, McIlroy kept his misses to a minimum in posting an opening-round 67 and is tied for the lead after the first day of the event with Tyrrell Hatton at 5 under.
Saying the course played a bit more difficult than in recent years, McIlroy had one bogey on the front but cleaned things up on the back with three birdies and no blemishes. He said the recent work he’s put in will help him in situations just like this one, where missing the fairway is truly punitive.
“I think it’s a little bit more consistency. I think my start lines will come in a little bit so even my misses will become a little bit better. I think the criticism of my game over the past 18 months is that the misses had become a little too wide and they were getting me into trouble,” McIlroy said. “So we’re not going to hit perfect golf shots all the time.
“But if you can minimize the misses and make sure that they’re not destructive, that’s always a good thing.”
“I should be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I’m not. So that, that stings.”
Rory McIlroy is in Dubai this week for the DP World Tour Championship, seeking his third straight Race to Dubai — the DP World Tour equivalent of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup — title and sixth overall.
Despite another strong season from the world No. 3 that included his 25th and 26th PGA Tour wins — Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship — McIlroy answered “B” when asked what he’d grade his season.
“It would be a pass, it wouldn’t be a pass with flying colors,” he said with a slight chuckle. “But, um, probably a B.”
The one glaring stain was yet another close call at a major championship, this time at Pinehurst No. 2 at the U.S. Open. McIlroy controlled the tournament on the back nine on Sunday but bogeyed three of his final four holes to allow Bryson DeChambeau to swoop in and win his second major title (2020 U.S. Open, Winged Foot).
“Incredibly consistent again,” McIlroy said when asked to describe his year. “You know, I think I’ve been really proud of that (consistency) over the last few years. But then at the same time, you know, thinking about the ones that got away. I should be sitting up here with a fifth major title and I’m not. So that, that stings.”
“I should be sitting here with a fifth major, that stings” 😔
Rory McIlroy says he’d give himself a B rating for his season but still rues missing out on winning the US Open ⛳ pic.twitter.com/3BTeNJl2Fg
The DP World Tour announced Tuesday its 2025 schedule, and a couple of events are returning to the calendar.
The schedule features 42 events in 26 countries, including the return of the Austrian Open and Turkish Open, as well as the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The Turkish Open, held at Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort from May 8-11, marks the DP World Tour’s return to Turkey for the first time in six years. The Austrian Alpine Open, at Gut Altentann Golf Club from May 29-June 1, also sees the Tour return to Austria for the first time since 2021.
There will be five global swings on the schedule, and the first event is scheduled for later this month in Australia.
DP World Tour members will also compete for a record total prize fund of $153 million outside the majors.
Here’s a look at the complete 2025 DP World Tour schedule.
Date
Tournament name
Location
Course
Nov. 21-24
BMW Australian PGA Championship
Brisbane
Royal Queensland
Nov. 28- Dec. 1
ISPS Handa Australian Open
Melbourne
Kingston Heath GC & Victoria GC
Dec. 5-8
Nedbank Golf Challenge
Sun City, South Africa
Gary Player CC
Dec. 12-15
Alfred Dunhill Championship
Malelane, South Africa
Leopard Creek CC
Dec. 19-22
AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open
Grand Baie
Mont Choisy Le Golf
Jan. 10-12
Team Cup
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Abu Dhabi Golf Resort
Jan. 16-19
Hero Dubai Desert Classic
UAE
Emirates GC
Jan. 23-26
Ras Al Khaimah Championship
UAE
Al Hamra GC
Jan. 30-Feb. 2
Bahrain Championship
Kingdom of Bahrain
Royal GC
Feb. 6-9
Middle East Event
TBA
TBA
Feb. 20-23
Magical Kenya Open
Nairobi
Muthaiga GC
Feb. 27 – March 2
South African Open Championship
Durban
Durban CC
March 6-9
Joburg Open
Johannesburg, South Africa
Houghton GC
March 20-23
Porsche Singapore Classic
Singapore
Laguna National
March 27-30
Hero Indian Open
India
TBA
April 10-13
Masters
Augusta, GA, USA
Augusta National GC
April 17-20
Volvo China Open
China
TBA
April 24-27
Asian Event
TBA
TBA
May 8-11
Turkish Open
Antalya
Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort
May 15-18
PGA Championship
Charlotte, NC
Quail Hollow Club
May 22-25
Soudal Open
Antwerp, Belgium
Rinkven International GC
May 29 – June 1
Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand
Salzburg
Gut Altentann GC
June 5-8
KLM Open
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The International
June 12-15
U.S. Open
Oakmont, PA
Oakmont CC
June 26-29
Italian Open
Porto Ecole, Tuscany, Italy
Argentario GC
July 3-6
BMW International Open
Munich, Germany
Golfclub München Eichenried
July 10-13
Genesis Scottish Open
North Berwick
The Renaissance Club
July 10-13
ISCO Championship
Louisville, KY, USA
Hurstbourne CC
July 17-20
Open Championship
Portrush, Country Antrim, Northern Ireland
Royal Portrush GC
July 17-20
Barracuda Championship
Truckee, CA, USA
Tahoe Mt. Club
Aug. 7-10
D+D REAL Czech Masters
TBA
TBA
Aug. 14-17
Danish Golf Championship
Copenhagen
Furesø Golf Klub
Aug. 21-24
Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo
Sutton Coldfield, England
The Belfry
Aug. 28-31
Omega European Masters
Crans Montana, Switzerland
Crans-sur-Sierre GC
Sept. 4-7
Amgen Irish Open
Staffan, Kildare
The K Club
Sept. 11-14
BMW PGA Championship
Virginia Water, Surrey, England
Wentworth Club
Sept. 18-21
FedEx Open de France
Paris
Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche
Sept. 26-28
Ryder Cup
Farmingdale, NY, USA
Bethpage Black GC
Oct. 2-5
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Scotland
Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns
Oct. 9-12
acciona Open de España presented by Madrid Club de Campo
