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Weekend Overview
It was a diverse weekend across the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Q-School, blending team golf and career-defining moments. Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin captured the Grant Thornton Invitational with a record-low performance. At the same time, Jayden Trey Schaper delivered a breakthrough victory on home soil at the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Meanwhile, the pressure-packed PGA Tour Q-School Final Stage saw five players secure life-changing 2026 Tour memberships, showcasing just how thin the margins are at golf’s highest level. At every stop, composure under pressure proved the defining theme.
Tour-By-Tour Recap
PGA TOUR/ LPGA TOUR
Event: Grant Thornton Invitational, Tiburón Golf Club & The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón
Winner: Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin
Score: -28
How They Won:
Top 5: 1. Novak/Coughlin T2. Gotterup/Kupcho T2. McCarthy/Korda T2. Brennan/Hull T5. Kim/Zhang T5. Conners/Henderson
Storyline to Know: Novak and Coughlin were consistent through each format: R1/Scramble, R2/Foursomes, R3/Modified Four-Ball. The duo set a tournament scoring record of 28-under-par (188)
Two record-breaking rounds as the pairs of Charley Hull & Michael Brennan and Lexi Thompson & Wyndham Clark fired 17-under-par first rounds. Michael Brennan was a fill-in for Daniel Berger, who WD with an undisclosed reason.
Jessica Korda returned to competition after a two-year hiatus due to injury and announced her pregnancy shortly after. Korda floated the idea of a return to the LPGA Tour next season during a media interview, noting that we should not expect a full schedule if and when it happens.
DP WORLD TOUR
Event: Alfred Dunhill Championship, Royal Johannesburg
Winner: Jayden Trey Schaper
Score: -16 (Playoff)
How They Won: Schaper remained composed during a rain-shortened 54-hole tournament, seizing the moment with an eagle on the first playoff hole to claim his first DP World Tour title. After a week of consistent play, he took full advantage of the par-5 playoff while his competitors faltered under pressure. Claiming victory on home soil made the achievement even more special for the young South African.
Top 5:
Storyline to Know: Relentless rain reduced the tournament to 54 holes, turning patience and course management into the ultimate test. Defending champion Shaun Norris fired a final-round 62 to force a playoff. Still, it was Schaper’s breakthrough moment, a first DP World Tour win that signals a potential changing of the guard in South African golf and injects fresh energy into the DP World Tour’s early-season narrative.
Defending champion Shaun Norris nearly went back-to-back, firing a bogey-free 62 in the final round to force the playoff. Despite falling short, his late surge reaffirmed his comfort level at Royal Johannesburg.
With limited full-field events this time of year, Schaper’s win delivers outsized value in points, giving him early momentum in the Race to Dubai and improving his long-term status outlook.
Multiple South Africans occupied the top of the leaderboard, reinforcing why this event remains one of the strongest “home-field” tournaments on the DP World Tour calendar.
Q-School Presented by Korn Ferry
Event: Q-School Final Stage, Dye’s Valley Course (DV) and Sawgrass Country Club (CC)
Winner: A.J. Ewart
Score: -14
How They Won: After a steady, and I am sure nerve-racking, front nine (Even Par), A.J. went on to fire a 4 under second nine, securing medalist honors by 2 strokes.
Top 5: 1. A.J. Ewart T2. Adam Svensson T2. Alejandro Tosti T2. Marcelo Rozo T5. Dylan Wu
Storyline to Know: Top 5 finishers earn their 2026 PGA Tour Cards. No ties allowed! Dylan Wu beat out Ben Silverman, scoring a birdie on the first hole (No. 18) of a 2-for-1 playoff
The final group of qualifiers showcased a compelling mix of experience and breakthrough moments, highlighting the diverse paths back to the PGA Tour. Adam Svensson improved his status and secured a return, while Alejandro Tosti reclaimed his card for another season after navigating the pressure of Q-School. Marcelo Rozo’s qualification marked a long-awaited milestone, earning his first PGA Tour card after years of perseverance, and Dylan Wu claimed the final spot by surviving a sudden-death playoff, underscoring just how thin the margins were at this year’s Q-School.
Performance of the Week
- Jayden Trey Schaper’s first DP World Tour victory came in the toughest of circumstances, navigating a rain-shortened event before sealing the win with an eagle on the first playoff hole. Winning on home soil against a strong South African contingent made the breakthrough even more meaningful.
- Andrew Novak & Lauren Coughlin were flawless across all three formats at the Grant Thornton Invitational, setting a tournament scoring record at 28-under. Their consistency from scramble to foursomes to modified four-ball separated them from an elite field.
- A.J. Ewart delivered when it mattered most at the Q-School Final Stage, closing with a strong back nine to earn medalist honors. With only five PGA Tour cards available, his two-shot margin stood out in one of golf’s most stressful environments.
Trends & Storylines to Watch
- Young players capitalizing early: Schaper’s win and Ewart’s Q-School performance highlight a wave of emerging talent gaining momentum early in the season.
- Home-field advantage remains real: Multiple South Africans contending at Royal Johannesburg reinforced how comfort and familiarity can tilt the scales.
- Team formats reward versatility: Success at the Grant Thornton Invitational emphasized adaptability across different scoring formats.
- Q-School margins are shrinking: Sudden-death playoffs and no-tie rules continue to raise the stakes, making every shot season-defining.
What Amateur Golfers Can Learn This Week
- Patience wins tournaments: Rain, delays, and shortened formats rewarded players who stayed committed to their game plans.
- Course management matters under pressure: Schaper and Norris both showed how smart decisions can keep momentum alive late.
- Adaptability is a skill: Switching formats at the Grant Thornton Invitational proved that great golfers adjust quickly, not perfectly.
Closing Thoughts
This weekend offered a snapshot of professional golf’s full spectrum, from team events to playoff drama and career-defining Q-School moments. Early-season results are already shaping momentum for the months ahead. As tours settle into their schedules, these performances may prove pivotal when points, status, and confidence are on the line.
