Tag: DP World Tour

Will Zalatoris added 15 pounds of muscle this offseason: ‘I have worked probably the hardest I ever have’

Skinny Willy Z bulked up.

While many of the world’s best players are in the Bahamas this week for Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge, Will Zalatoris is in South Africa for the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge.

The man affectionally known as Willy Z spoke with the DPWT about his offseason and the extensive work he’s put in to return to the form that saw him win the FedEx St. Jude Championship in 2022.

“It has been a great offseason,” he said. “I have worked probably the hardest I ever have. I picked up 15 pounds of muscle this offseason. I absolutely busted my tail trying to get my speed back, really get better with the broomstick and it has been good.

“I haven’t played much but that was on purpose. I wanted to be home, be able to eat my 4,500 calories a day and 200 grams of protein and train and get better.”

HERO: Leaderboard | Photos

Zalatoris mentioned that this was his first true offseason in years, as the PGA Tour’s old wraparound season and injury rehab took up most of his time in the past.

2023 Masters
Will Zalatoris tees off on the third hole during a practice round for The Masters 2024 at Augusta National Golf Club. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY)

The 28-year-old pulled out of the Masters in 2023 due to a back injury, and after having surgery shortly after leaving Augusta National, the fan-favorite has been working his way back to form ever since.

As for other activities he’s been up to this week, Zalatoris went on a safari to catch a glimpse of the wildlife South Africa has to offer.

“It was incredible,” he said. “We saw everything you could think of: lions, monkeys, giraffes, hippos, everything. Big five, little five, ugly five … all of it. It was just an amazing experience.”

After Thursday’s first round of the Nedbank, Zalatoris is tied for 41st in the 66-man field at 2 over, while defending champion Max Homa is alone in first at 6 under.

Jiyai Shin wins ISPS Handa Australian Women’s Open for a second time

It’s the 65th professional win for Shin.

Jiyai Shin won the 2024 ISPS Handa Australian Women’s Open on Sunday, her second time winning the event which is played concurrently at two courses on the Australian sand belt in Melbourne. Ryggs Johnston won the men’s event Sunday.

Shin shot a final-round 70 and finished at 17 under to win by two shots over Ashleigh Buhai to claim her second Australia Open title. Shin led by as many as seven on Sunday but Buhai closed with five birdies on her back nine to make things interesting.

It’s the 65th professional win for Shin.

“Now I can breathe,” she said. “I only had one Australian Open trophy so I am really excited for this next one, especially at this golf course at Kingston Heath.”

Hyojin Yang, a 17-year-old amateur, finished third at seven under. Hannah Green finished in a tie for fourth after shooting 79 on Sunday.

The Australian Open tournaments feature alternating tee times on two golf courses – Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club – for the first two days, with Kingston Heath hosting the final round. For the second straight year, the prize money was the same for the men and the women.

Ryggs Johnston won the men’s event Sunday.

ISPS Handa Australian Open 2024 prize money payouts at Kingston Heath

Check out the final leaderboard and prize money.

Ryggs Johnston earned more than $200,000, garnered more playing opportunities and locked up a spot in the 2025 Open Championship on Sunday.

These are the rewards after he won on the DP World Tour in just his second start after making his way through Q school.

Johnston won the 2024 ISPS Handa Australian Open by three shots over Curtis Luck. His four-day scores of 65-68-68-68 led the way at Kingston Heath in Australia.

ISPS Handa Australian Open 2024 prize money payouts

Pos. Name Score Earnings
1 Ryggs Johnston -18 $209,000
2 Curtis Luck -15 $135,000
T3 Marc Leishman -14 $69,000
T3 Jasper Stubbs -14 $69,000
T5 Kiradech Aphibarnrat -12 $35,000
T5 Harrison Crowe -12 $35,000
T5 Wenyi Ding -12 $35,000
T5 Lucas Herbert -12 $35,000
T5 Joaquin Niemann -12 $35,000
T5 Elvis Smylie -12 $35,000
T11 Joel Girrbach -11 $20,000
T11 Harry Higgs -11 $20,000
T11 Matthew Millar -11 $20,000
T11 Adrien Saddier -11 $20,000
15 Lukas Nemecz -10 $17,500
T16 Jordan Gumberg -9 $16,000
T16 Oliver Lindell -9 $16,000
T16 Freddy Schott -9 $16,000
19 Nicolai Von Dellingshausen -8 $14,500
T20 Mk Kim -7 $13,500
T20 David Law -7 $13,500
T20 Matthew Southgate -7 $13,500
T23 Angel Ayora -6 $12,500
T23 Jack Buchanan -6 $12,500
T23 Sebastian Garcia -6 $12,500
T23 Daniel Hillier -6 $12,500
T27 Filippo Celli -5 $10,500
T27 Cristobal Del Solar -5 $10,500
T27 Manuel Elvira -5 $10,500
T27 Min Woo Lee -5 $10,500
T27 Jacob Skov Olesen -5 $10,500
T27 Marco Penge -5 $10,500
T27 Brett Rumford -5 $10,500
T34 Ivan Cantero -4 $8,500
T34 Alexander George Frances -4 $8,500
T34 Daniel Gale -4 $8,500
T34 Kazuma Kobori -4 $8,500
T34 Corey Lamb -4 $8,500
T39 Josh Geary -3 $7,000
T39 Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen -3 $7,000
T39 Jake Mcleod -3 $7,000
T39 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen -3 $7,000
T39 Jamie Rutherford -3 $7,000
T39 Cam Smith -3 $7,000
T39 Darius Van Driel -3 $7,000
T46 Lawry Flynn -2 $5,800
T46 Karl Vilips -2 $5,800
T46 Ashun Wu -2 $5,800
T49 James Gibellini -1 $5,100
T49 Andrew Kelly -1 $5,100
T49 Nick Voke -1 $5,100
52 Jannik De Bruyn E $4,600
53 Cameron John 1 $4,400
T54 Alfredo Garcia-Heredia 2 $4,000
T54 Andrew Martin 2 $4,000
T54 David Micheluzzi 2 $4,000
T54 Ben Schmidt 2 $4,000
T58 Josh Armstrong 3 $3,600
T58 Pierre Pineau 3 $3,600
T60 Jack Munro 4 $3,400
T60 Jordan Zunic 4 $3,400
T62 Nathan Page 5 $3,200
T62 Tapio Pulkkanen 5 $3,200
64 Lachlan Barker 8 $3,000
65 Rintaro Nakano (a) 15 $0

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Ryggs Johnston wins ISPS Handa Australian Open in second DP World Tour start

Johnston’s win secured a spot in the 2025 Open Championship.

Ryggs Johnston, in just his second start on the DP World Tour, won by three shots to claim the 2024 ISPS Handa Australian Open. He also punched his ticket to the 2025 Open Championship.

Johnston tied for 42nd in his DPWT debut last week, this after having to navigate Q school on the European circuit.

“I turned up pretty tired from all the travel and Q-School and everything. Didn’t get a practice round here with the weather. I didn’t really have any expectations, which probably helped me in the end,” he said. “It feels great, just knowing that more playing opportunities and getting into bigger events. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet but it’s an amazing feeling.”

Johnston is from the small town of Libby, Montana, which has about 3,000 residents.

“I’ve got a lot of messages from friends back home saying the whole town is watching,” he added. “It’s just really cool to have that kind of support and the sort of thing you don’t see much other than small towns like I’m from.”

He later played at Arizona State, where he helped the Sun Devils win the 2024 Pac-12 title.

“Arizona State prepared me for this kind of moment. The team around me, the coaches have helped. The coach was one of the reasons I decided to play Q-School for this tour but everyone around me, my family and friends, girlfriend, my girlfriend’s dad caddied for me this week just helping out, they’ve been all so supportive and I’m just so lucky.”

Johnston was tied after 54 holes with LIV Golf’s Lucas Herbert but Johnston made eagle from the fringe on the first hole. He then birdied the third but also posted three bogeys on his front nine. Johnston later birdied the 14th and 15th holes en route to a final-round 68.

Curtis Luck shot a 68 to finish at 15 under, three shots back. Marc Leishman tied for third with Jasper Stubbs at 14 under.

Johnson, Luck and Leishman secured the three Open Championship spots that were up for grabs. Leishman’s higher OWGR ranking was the tie-breaker for the third Open spot over Stubbs.

The 2025 Open will be at Royal Portrush.

The Australian Open tournaments feature alternating tee times on two golf courses – Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Club – for the first two days, with Kingston Heath hosting the final round. For the second straight year, the prize money was the same for the men and the women.

Jiyai Shin won the 2024 ISPS Handa Australian Women’s Open on Sunday.

Watch this DP World Tour player make a 139-yard putt — and his epic celebration

He made it with his second attempt.

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.

This DP World Tour rookie was penalized for slow play in his first professional start

Perhaps a sign of changes coming?

There has been plenty of discussion recently about slow play in professional golf.

Whether it’s the stars of the LPGA discussing it or PGA Tour players talking about it in relation to recent changes on Tour, slow play is a universal problem in golf. Some players, including Matt Fitzpatrick, have even taken to social media to complain about pace-of-play problems.

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.

Report: Sergio Garcia has reapplied for DP World Tour membership in hopes to make Ryder Cup team

Sergio could return to the Ryder Cup after all.

Sergio Garcia is taking the first steps to play on the 2025 Ryder Cup team.

The 44-year-old Spaniard has reapplied for his membership on the DP World Tour, bunkered reported Monday. To be on the European Ryder Cup team, players must have status on the DP World Tour, which Garcia hasn’t had since last May when he resigned.

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.”

2024 DP World Tour Championship prize money payouts for every player in Dubai

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.

DP World Tour Championship prize money payouts

Pos. Player Score Earnings
1 Rory McIlroy -15 $3,000,000
2 Rasmus Hojgaard -13 $1,270,000
T-3 Shane Lowry -11 $554,334
T-3 Adam Scott -11 $554,334
T-3 Antoine Rozner -11 $554,334
6 Tyrrell Hatton -10 $316,000
T-7 Robert MacIntyre -9 $209,625
T-7 Keita Nakajima -9 $209,625
T-7 Joaquin Niemann -9 $209,625
T-7 Jesper Svensson -9 $209,625
T-11 Matt Wallace -8 $143,000
T-11 Tom McKibbin -8 $143,000
13 Adrian Otaegui -7 $128,000
T-14 Sam Bairstow -6 $117,000
T-14 Laurie Canter -6 $117,000
T-16 Tommy Fleetwood -5 $105,250
T-16 Johannes Veerman -5 $105,250
T-16 Paul Waring -5 $105,250
T-19 Romain Langasque -4 $89,900
T-19 Jorge Campillo -4 $89,900
T-19 Jordan Smith -4 $89,900
T-19 Ewen Ferguson -4 $89,900
T-19 Guido Migliozzi -4 $89,900
T-24 Andy Sullivan -3 $78,875
T-24 Alex Fitzpatrick -3 $78,875
T-24 Min Woo Lee -3 $78,875
T-24 Thorbjorn Olesen -3 $78,875
T-28 Darius Van Driel -2 $72,125
T-28 Rikuya Hoshino -2 $72,125
T-30 Adrian Meronk -1 $65,375
T-30 Matteo Manassero -1 $65,375
T-30 Thriston Lawrence -1 $65,375
T-30 Ugo Coussaud -1 $65,375
T-34 Matthew Jordan E $54,500
T-34 Justin Rose E $54,500
T-34 Julien Guerrier E $54,500
T-34 Nacho Elvira E $54,500
T-34 Yannik Paul E $54,500
T-34 Frederic Lacroix E $54,500
T-40 Joe Dean 1 $47,750
T-40 Niklas Norgaard 1 $47,750
42 Sebastian Soderberg 2 $45,500
43 Daniel Brown 3 $44,000
44 David Ravetto 4 $42,500
45 Francesco La Porta 7 $41,000
46 Dan Bradbury 8 $39,500
47 Billy Horschel 9 $38,000
48 Angel Hidalgo 10 $36,500
T-49 Aaron Cockerill 11 $34,250
T-49 Connor Syme 11 $34,250

Rory McIlroy wins 2024 DP World Tour Championship, captures sixth Race to Dubai title

“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.”

Rory McIlroy among co-leaders at 2024 DP World Tour Championship: ‘Great opportunity to end the year on a really high note’

“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.

More: While Team USA is worried about being paid to play in the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy says he’d ‘pay for the privilege’ to play in the event

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.