
This Week in Golf: From Mexico to Milan - big names, big money, and a major on the line
There's no slowing down on the global pro golf circuit.
LIV Golf is back in action, teeing off in Mexico with its trademark 54-hole format and a hefty $25 million purse up for grabs. Hometown heroes Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer are sure to fire up the local crowd, joined by the usual cast of LIV stars.
Meanwhile, the DP World Tour sticks around in China for the Hainan Classic. It might seem convenient staying in the same country two weeks in a row—until you realize the tour has moved nearly 2,000 kilometers south, with a five-hour flight separating last week's stop from this one. Whoever said scheduling golf tournaments was easy?
On the PGA Tour, it's time for the always-entertaining Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This unique team event spices things up with fourballs (betterball) on Thursday and Saturday, and alternate-shot foursomes on Friday and Sunday. While the event offers valuable FedEx Cup points, there are no Masters invitations or OWGR points on the line.
Who could forget Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry's electric win here last year? They're back to defend their title—and we always appreciate when champions return. It adds to the drama, doesn't it?
Expect a lighter, more festive vibe this week—a welcome breather from the grind of back-to-back 72-hole tournaments.
Over on the HotelPlanner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour), players are catching their breath after two weeks in the UAE. Italy's Renato Paratore, a former Dubai resident, made the most of it, claiming back-to-back wins and surging to second in the Road to Mallorca rankings. A well-earned break awaits.
In the women's game, it's a big one—the first major of the season. The Chevron Championship takes place in Texas with a whopping $7.9 million purse. It's the beginning of a high-stakes stretch in the LPGA calendar.
And finally, in Italy, Pre-Qualifying for the 2025 US Women's Open gets underway at Golf Club Ambrosiano in Milan. These 18-hole qualifiers are always full of drama and emerging stories—definitely worth keeping an eye on.
A great week ahead for golf fans. Best of luck to everyone teeing it up around the globe!
This Week's Events at a Glance:
LIV Golf
Friday 25th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
LIV Golf Mexico City
Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico
Purse: $25 million
PGA Tour
Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana, US
Purse: $9.2 million
Korn Ferry Tour
Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
Veritez Bank Championship
Texas Rangers Golf Club, Arlington, Texas
Purse: $1 million
DP World Tour
Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
Hainan Classic
Blackstone Course, Mission Hills, Hainan Island, China
Purse: $2.55 million
LPGA Tour
Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
The Chevron Championship
The Woodlands, Texas, US
Purse: $7.9 million
Ladies European Tour
Sunday 29th April, 2025
US Women's Open – Pre-Qualifier
Golf Club Ambrosiano, Milan, Italy
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Syme seals first DP World Tour title at KLM Open, hails caddie's role in breakthrough
Scotland's Connor Syme finally tasted victory on the DP World Tour, securing his first title at the 2025 KLM Open with a composed final round at The International, and credited his caddie for instilling the belief that a win was within reach. In his 182nd career start, the 29-year-old from Drumoig held off a determined challenge from Sweden's Joakim Lagergren, finishing two shots clear after a head-to-head battle that lasted all afternoon. With the rest of the field trailing behind, it quickly became a two-man duel - Syme never looked rattled. Syme acknowledged the crucial role his team played, singling out caddie Ryan McGuigan for reinforcing the belief that victory was possible. 'It's an unbelievable feeling,' an emotional Syme said. 'The past few days were really tough, but I felt different this week—calmer, more ready. Ryan's (McGuigan) been huge for me, always reminding me that I've won before, even if not at this level.' Syme began the final round with a two-stroke lead over Lagergren, and while Italian Francesco Laporta rounded out the final group, the real drama was between the Scot and the Swede. Early Move Syme made an early statement with a birdie at the second, his wedge shot nestling four feet from the cup. Lagergren kept the pressure on, holing a long birdie putt at the seventh, but a slip-up in the sand at the ninth handed the advantage back to Syme. After trading birdies on the 13th, Syme dropped his first shot in 33 holes at the 14th - a rare misstep that cut his lead to two. But he quickly steadied the ship. When Lagergren failed to save par at the 15th, Syme missed a birdie putt but regained his three-stroke cushion. Even as Lagergren unleashed a late eagle on the 18th, it was too little, too late. Syme calmly navigated the closing stretch with smart shot choices and nerveless putting, tapping in for par on the last to seal a career-defining win at nine under par. He joins a prestigious group of Scots who have triumphed at the KLM Open, including Colin Montgomerie and Gordon Brand Jr. South Africa's Jayden Schaper claimed solo third with a final-round 69, while Scots Ewen Ferguson and Richie Ramsay shared fourth alongside England's Jack Senior. Ferguson lit up the course with an ace on the seventh, finishing with a sizzling 67. Laporta faded late with trouble at the 18th, while last week's winner Nicolai von Dellingshausen finished among a cluster at two under, joined by Jorge Campillo, Manuel Elvira, Andy Sullivan, and Dan Bradbury. Emotional Victory An emotional Syme credited his team, particularly his caddie Ryan McGuigan, for helping him believe a win was within reach. He also acknowledged the impact of his formative years and his time on developmental tours, where he built the confidence that ultimately carried him over the finish line. 'There's so much talent coming through now,' he added. 'To get my name on the list of first-time winners this season is just amazing.'


Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Scotland showdown: Major rewards await Women's Amateur Champion
The stage is set for a thrilling week of elite amateur golf as the 122nd edition of The Women's Amateur Championship gets underway tomorrow at The Nairn Golf Club with several familiar faces from last year's Curtis Cup preparing to renew rivalries on the Scottish links. This year's championship, which is scheduled for a Sunday, June 15 finish, boasts a powerful field, headlined by four of the world's top ten players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), including American stars Catherine Park (No. 7), Farah O'Keefe (No. 8), and Jasmine Koo (No. 10). Park and Koo return to competition after narrowly losing the 2024 Curtis Cup to Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) in a dramatic 10½-9½ showdown at Sunningdale in Berkshire, England. They'll be joined by teammate Anna Davis, winner of the 2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur at just 16, while GB&I's victorious trio of Beth Coulter, Hannah Darling, and Patience Rhodes - whose Sunday singles win helped seal the Cup - will be looking to build on that momentum at Nairn Golf Club, which has hosted several top-tier amateur championships since it was founded in 1887. In total, six of the world's top 20 amateurs are confirmed, with competitors traveling from 30 countries including Australia, Barbados, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa, underlining the global appeal of the event. This year's champion will earn coveted exemptions into the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl, the US Women's Open, The Amundi Evian Championship, and the Augusta National Women's Amateur, as well as a start on the Ladies European Tour. Scotland's own Hannah Darling, ranked 18th in the world, returns as the top GB&I player and a two-time semi-finalist. Now graduated from the University of South Carolina, the 21-year-old is eager to claim the title on home soil. 'I've come close before, so there's definitely some added motivation,' she said. 'But more than anything, I just want to enjoy it. Match play is unpredictable, and that's what makes it so exciting.' Spain's Paula Martin Sampedro (WAGR No. 9) leads the European charge, with former quarter-finalists Ines Archer (France) and Paula Schulz-Hanssen (Germany) also returning. Denmark's Marine Eline Madsen, a semi-finalist in 2024, is another name to watch. Canadian rising star Vanessa Borovilos will make her debut following a standout collegiate season, while French talent Louise Landgraf, the 2024 R&A Girls' U16 Amateur Champion, adds further depth. Founded in 1893, The Women's Amateur Championship remains one of the crown jewels of the amateur game. Past winners include major champions Georgia Hall and Anna Nordqvist, along with Leona Maguire, now ranked No. 17 in the world. The tournament begins with 36 holes of stroke play on 10–11 June. The top 64 will then advance to the match play rounds, culminating in the final on Sunday, 15 June. This marks only the second time Nairn has hosted The Women's Amateur Championship, the last was in 1979, when Maureen Madill claimed victory. The course has previously welcomed prestigious events including the Curtis Cup, Walker Cup, and The Amateur Championship, confirming its place among Scotland's most storied golfing venues.


Hi Dubai
6 hours ago
- Hi Dubai
DP World Launches Global Clubhouse Initiative to Make Golf Accessible to Youth
DP World has unveiled a new global initiative aimed at making golf more accessible to underserved youth, launching its first purpose-built Clubhouse in Cape Town, South Africa. The project builds on the success of DP World's Second Life Container Initiative, which repurposed shipping containers to distribute over 350,000 golf balls worldwide. Now, through the Clubhouse program, the company is taking a step further—transforming unused containers into fully equipped golf hubs tailored to the needs of grassroots programs around the world. Each Clubhouse will offer essential golf equipment, storage, and training aids, delivered using DP World's logistics network. The aim is to create safe, engaging environments for young players to learn and grow through golf, particularly in communities with limited access to the sport. The first unit was donated in partnership with the Sally Little Golf Trust, a South African non-profit dedicated to empowering young women through golf. The Trust uses the sport to instill values like honesty, integrity, respect, and perseverance—skills seen as critical for academic and personal development. 'At DP World, we believe in creating opportunities to empower young people,' said Daniel van Otterdijk, Chief Communications Officer. 'This initiative reflects how our logistics expertise and global partnerships can help open doors for the next generation.' The Clubhouse roll-out will continue in tandem with key events in the golf calendar, including the DP World Tour and the Ryder Cup in New York this September. As one of the world's leading logistics providers, DP World is giving new life to its containers—while shaping a more inclusive future for the game of golf. News Source: Dubai Media Office