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Weekend Overview
This past weekend was packed with drama and excitement across the globe. Hideki Matsuyama won the Hero World Challenge in a playoff against Alex Noren, showcasing why he is one, if not the best, short game player in the world. On the DP World Tour, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen secured the Crown Australian Open with a clutch up-and-down on the 18th hole, earning spots in both the 2026 Masters and Open Championship. Kristoffer Reitan also celebrated a win at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa. The Second Round of PGA Q-School also took place; weather stole the spotlight from two sites, making things challenging for players who moved on and setting up a tense finish for the Final Stage in Jacksonville. With LIV Golf moving to 72-hole events in 2026, there’s a lot for fans to look forward to in the new year.
Tour-By-Tour Recap
PGA TOUR
Event: Hero World Challenge, Albany
Winner: Hideki Matsuyama
Score: -22 (Playoff)
How They Won: On Sunday, Matsuyama carded an 8-under 64, one of the lowest rounds of the week. Meanwhile, Alex Noren birdied the last hole in regulation to shoot an 8-under 64 and force a playoff with Matsuyama. Returning to 18, Matsuyama needed only 3 shots to secure victory, sticking his 166-yard approach close for an easy birdie putt. Noren missed his long birdie putt and tapped in for par.
Top 5: 1. Hideki Matsuyama 2. Alex Noren 3. Sepp Straka T4. J.J. Spaun T4. Scottie Scheffler
Storyline to Know: The short game was on full display Sunday. Spaun chipped in three times, Matsuyama holed out for eagle on 10, Straka was nearly perfect scrambling, and Scheffler also impressed around the greens with a chip-in for birdie. Across the week, Matsuyama gained 4 strokes around the green, ranking 1st in the field, while Noren’s hot putter in round 4 gained him 4.049 strokes.
Scottie Scheffler fell two shots short of a three-peat, with bogeys on 11 and 12 proving decisive. Despite being ranked 2nd in putting for the week, it seemed like nothing dropped, as he lost 1.4 shots and ranked 17th out of the field.
Because this tournament is held at the end of the calendar year, it serves as a kind of last look at players heading into the next season. For example, Jordan Spieth may have some work to do in January as he preps for 2026. Although he had some good shots, Spieth generally struggled, finishing 19th (out of 20). Across all four rounds, Spieth ranked 17th off the tee, 18th in approach to green, 11th around the green, and 20th in putting. He may still be working on changes and recovering, both physically and mentally, from his wrist surgery. With about 2 months before his next event, there’s room for improvement; he may return to the top 30 in the world in 2026 (currently ranked 73rd in the OWGR).
DP WORLD TOUR
Event: Crown Australian Open, Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Winner: Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
Score: -15
How They Won: Cam Smith had briefly taken the lead at the 10th hole, but Neergaard-Petersen responded with birdies at 12 and 13 to regain control. Both players birdied the par-5 17th, setting up the dramatic final hole. With hole 18 playing as the toughest on the day, Neergaard-Petersen, with a wind gusting left to right, took on a right-tucked pin, missed the green in a bad spot, then missed the green and the bunker altogether, landing in the long grass, creating a tough up-and-down. Seeing this, Smith appeared to play it safe, missing the fattest part of the green, but left himself with a tough two-putt. Neergaard-Petersen hit a fantastic shot out of the grass over the bunker, leaving himself a 10-foot putt, which he ended up holing. Smith went on to 3-putt, causing him to lose and not force a playoff.
Top 5: 1. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 2. Cameron Smith 3. Si Woo Kim 4. Michael Hollick 5. Adam Scott
Storyline to Know: With his win, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen receives an automatic invitation to the 2026 Masters at Augusta National.
Neergaard-Petersen also secured entry in the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. This is because the top three finishers who are not already exempt secure spots in the 2026 Open Championship, meaning Michael Hollick, Adam Scott, and Si Woo Kim will receive invitations.
Cam Smith ended his missed cut streak (7) in 2025. Smith looked better than late, but has not been the same player since winning The Open in 2022.
DP WORLD TOUR
Event: Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player, Gary Player Country Club
Winner: Kristoffer Reitan
Score: -17
How They Won: Referred to as “Africa’s Major,” Reitan shot 63-69-67 in the first three rounds, which would be enough as he shot 72 (Par) in round 4. Jayden Schaper and Dan Bradbury did their best to catch Reitan with bogey-free 68 and 66, but would fall one short.
Top 5: 1. Kristoffer Reitan T2. Dan Bradbury T2. Jayden Schaper 4. Christiaan Bezuidenhout 5. Shaun Norris
Storyline to Know: No major news or exemptions coming out of this event. Viktor Hovland was the star but would finish T23.
Top finishers do get exemptions into valuable upcoming Rolex Series tournaments. Players also earn significant Race to Dubai points and crucial World Ranking points with a field rating of 120, the third strongest of the weekend.
Q-School Corner
Over the weekend, the Second Stage for the PGA Tour Q-School and LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying Stage concluded. Although we may see rules changed in 2026, two PGA Q-School events were shortened to 54 holes due to inclement weather, and the LPGA Q-Series was shortened to 72 holes due to Weather. Currently, the LPGA Q-Series is wrapping up Round 3 and will start Round 4 no later than 12:30pm EST. I will update my post as results are posted. As for the Men, five events concluded this weekend, and the following will move on to the Final Stage this weekend in Jacksonville:
Second Stage – Arizona
Second Stage – Georgia (Valdosta)
Second Stage – Florida
Second Stage – Alabama
Second Stage – Georgia (Savannah)
Trends & Storylines to Watch
- I believe we will start seeing more PGA pros play in Australia, especially those not in the Hero World Challenge field.
- Notable Names to Not Qualify for Final Round of Q-School
- Blades Brown
- James Nicholas
- Austin Cook
- Sam Bennett
- Tyler Duncan
- Adam Long
- Jimmy Walker
- Robert Streb
- Andrew Landry
- Sean O’Hair
- Scott Piercy.
- Expect changes to the 2026 Q School qualifying, as extra days will be needed to ensure all rounds are completed.
- LIV Golf is making a significant change for 2026: moving from 54-hole events to 72 holes. Will they change their name because of this move? Once they get rid of their shotgun start, I think they will be considered for World Ranking Points.
Closing Thoughts
The final weeks of 2025 previewed 2026’s contenders: Matsuyama’s sharp short game, Neergaard-Petersen’s poise, and Reitan’s steady play in South Africa.
Building on these performances, the PGA Q-School drama showed how a single round—or weather delay—can shape outcomes. Expect the 2026 qualifying structure to adapt.
Alongside these structural shifts, rising storylines include more PGA Tour players venturing to Australia, and LIV Golf’s planned move to 72-hole events, which could impact World Ranking Points and global perception.
Taken together, as we move into 2026, watch rookies breaking through, veteran comebacks, and strategic scheduling shifts across the global golf calendar.
