Wrapping up the DP World Tour at Christmas...

With Christmas upon us, and quickly I might add, I want to wish all of you who have followed me all my 22+ years at the #Fan590 radio, and my #Fairways golf show every Saturday morning with guys like Bob Weeks and Scott Metcalfe a very happy and healthy Christmas, and a peaceful, safe 2026.

I have since written 6104 posts on this sight, none for profit, just to stay in touch with you and the game I love. A lot of those posts cover the European Tour / DP World Tour, which I believe is the real test of a golf pros mettle, 42 events or so every year, 27 countries, food, travel, weather, language, topography from the Alps in Switzerland,Austria to the seaside links and all for half the money on the PGA Tour...

The Epic Ryder Cup victory amidst all the vulgarity at Bethpage, towers over the storylines of 2025, topped only by Justin Rose and Rory battling out the 2025 Masters with Rory pipping Rosey in the playoff for the Grand Slam.

Since Rory went on to win his 7th Order of Merit back in November, so much has happened as the 'beat goes on' with this Tour, especially while the PGA Tour is on holiday.

For me Final Stage a Q School doesn't have a particular interest however with Canadian Aaron Cockerill struggling in 2025, his bounce back T2 to regain his status was an unexpected highlight, with the 2026 season all set to begin 2 weeks later.

Starting in Australia and finishing in Mauritius with stops in South Africa in between, the 2026 Race to Dubai campaign began with the Opening Swing.

 The new campaign began Down Under last month with the BMW Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane then some made the journey to Melbourne for the Crown Australian Open, while others teed it up in South Africa for the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player.

After that double header of events, the first of five Global Swings continued with the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg before the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open brought the calendar year to a close.

BMW Australian PGA Championship

Royal Queensland Golf Club played host to the first of 42 events on the 2026 Race to Dubai, with local star Elvis Smylie returning to defend his crown.

At the close of the third round, there was a three-way tie for the lead held by Ricardo Gouveia, David Puig from Spain and Anthony Quayle, with past champions Min Woo Lee and Adam Scott among those in close pursuit.

However, it was Puig who secured his maiden DP World Tour title as he carded a flawless closing 66 in the final round to claim a two-shot victory.

Crown Australian Open

After a 20-year wait, the second of back-to-back events in Australia saw the DP World Tour return to the renowned Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the fifth time with Rory in attendance  the fairways were lined with spectators and greens surrounded as the tournament took on greater prestige with a place in next year's Masters Tournament on offer for the winner and three places at The Open Championship also up for grabs.

 Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen claimed a dramatic one-shot victory over LIV Cam Smith to become the second first-time winner in as many weeks on Tour.

Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player

In the same week as the Crown Australian Open, the DP World Tour continued its global odyssey with a first visit of the season to South Africa at Sun City.

A limited field of 66 players, teed it up over the Gary Player Country Club, which featured key strategic and aesthetic changes to the layout.

Kristoffer Reitan flew out of the starting gates with a 63 in the first round and the Norwegian opened up a five-shot lead heading into the final round. However, it was to be far from a procession to the finishing line as he required a par on the 72nd hole to card a level-par 71 to hold off final-round playing partners Dan Bradbury and Jayden Schaper and claim a one-shot victory.

Alfred Dunhill Championship

Schaper is the first player to win back-to-back events on the DP World Tour since Louis Oosthuizen, who also won the Alfred Dunhill Championship and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open during the Opening Swing of the 2024 Race to Dubai season

With the course at long-time venue Leopard Creek undergoing a period of recovery, Royal Johannesburg took on staging duties for the Alfred Dunhill Championship a week later.

Heavy rain to forced the third round to be suspended and the tournament to be decided over 54 holes. 

With Shaun Norris setting the clubhouse target after a stellar closing 62, countryman Jayden Schaper finished with two birdies in his closing three holes to also finish at -16, before sealing his maiden DP World Tour triumph with an eagle on the first play-off hole after a brilliant approach shot from a fairway bunker.

AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open

And, so, it was on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius that the action on the DP World Tour came to an end for another year. where the Heritage La Réserve Golf Links was again the scene for the co-sanctioned DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour event.

After strong winds made scoring a challenge over the opening round, Casey Jarvis rose to the summit at the halfway point before the South African was joined at the top of the leaderboard by American Ryan Gerard with one round to play.

The in-form Schaper finished with a second consecutive 64 to set the target at - 22 before Gerard - playing in the final group - closed with an up-and-down birdie to force a play-off.

For the second week running, Schaper celebrated success as he produced a remarkable chip-in eagle to claim his second win in as many weeks, with Gerard left to console himself with the reward of his runner-up finish securing him an invite to next year's Masters after climbing into the world's top 50 before the end of the year.

With it, Schaper earned entry into the Hero Dubai Desert Classic - the first of five Rolex Series events - and all of the DP World Tour's Back 9 events, along with a US$200,000 bonus.

With the festive period beginning for many, there is now a break in the DP World Tour schedule, with the action set to resume with the return of the Dubai Invitational from January 15.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

DP World Tour...Schaper completes a career 3 weeks...Final Results from Mauritius

   DP World Tour : AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open  Weather  Tee Times 

• Results

Jayden Schaper's fairy-tale start to the 2026 season continued as he produced a hole-out eagle at the second play-off hole to see off Ryan Gerard and claim his second DP World Tour title in as many weeks at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

The South African started the final round two shots off the lead but fired an eagle and six birdies in a flawless 64 to set the clubhouse target at -22 and put the pressure on American Gerard, who needed a birdie on the last to force a play-off.

And Gerard produced a shot-of-the-week contender on the 18th to make that possible, getting up and down from a tricky spot to take the contest to extra holes.

There was nothing to separate the pair at the first extra hole but Schaper chipped in for an eagle on the next in a grandstand finish to enter the winner's circle for the second week in a row following last Sunday's Alfred Dunhill Championship triumph.

Having also finished in a tie for second at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player prior to his two wins, Schaper comfortably came top of the Opening Swing standings.

Gerard, who finished alone in second after making six birdies in his closing 66, has the consolation prize of finishing the year inside the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking from 57th and securing an invitation to the 2026 Masters Tournament.

The 2025 Barracuda Championship winner had taken the long trip to Heritage La Réserve Golf Links with the aim of punching his ticket to Augusta National and achieved his goal with a fine performance throughout the week.

Casey Jarvis was alone in third, five shots further back -17 after his final-round 71.

Schaper said: "The last three weeks have been incredible.

"I don't even know what to say. That's just such an insane way to finish a tournament.

"It's been such a great week, such an awesome place, the support, the golf course. From start to finish.

"I could not have asked for anything better. Christmas is going to be good this year, and New Year. It's just unreal.

"I wait five years for the first (title) and then the following week (to get the second) is so cool."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Schaper chips in to beat Gerard in a playoff, AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open...Live scoring..

   DP World Tour : AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open  Weather  Tee Times

Red hot 24 year old South African Jayden Schafer who has finished 2nd, 1st in his last 2 events, and American Ryan Gerard ranked #57 in the world who has spent 25 hours flying to Mauritius to try to make the top 50 for the Masters shot bogey free 64,66's respectively, separated themselves from the field at -22 to force a playoff at this year's AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, the week before the Christmas break.

Their first trip down the 617 yard par 5 18th resulted in par 5's. 

Then with the second shot of the season on the DP World Tour, Schafer chipped in from 60yds for eagle 3 for his 2nd win in a row, with Gerard up against the face of the front greenside bunker.

The 2nd place result for the American, Gerard will also be enough to move him inside the top 50 for the Masters. 

The Tour is now off until 2026, Dubai Invitational on January 15th.

more to follow...

Bryan Angus

American Gerard surges with 63 in Mauritius...54 hole results

  DP World Tour : AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open  Weather  Tee Times

Ryan Gerard shot a stunning 63 to take a share of the lead in the 2026 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open and boost his Masters Tournament ambitions.

The American made the most of Moving Day to position himself alongside long-time leader Casey Jarvis on -16 with 18 holes to go at Heritage La Réserve Golf Links.

Alexander Levy was one off the lead on -15 after a 67, his third round in the 60s as he makes the most of a sponsor's invite, with a 64 taking last week's Alfred Dunhill Championship winner Jayden Schaper into fourth.

Gerard dropped a shot at the second but responded immediately with the first of four birdies on his front nine to move firmly into contention.

“That’s the reason I flew a long way (10,000 miles) to come here and hopefully punch a ticket to The Masters. That’s the goal," he said.

"Competing in pressure situations are the most fun you can have as a professional golfer. I’m someone who loves competing and hates losing. If I win I’m sure I’ll have a chance to go and play at Augusta National come April.”

The 26-year-old PGA Tour professional is taking advantage of the DP World Tour eligibility conferred by winning the co-sanctioned Barracuda Championship in July as he pursues the Official World Golf Ranking points to lift him from 57th into the top 50 at the end-of-year cut-off and secure an invitation to Augusta National.

Jarvis carded a bogey-free 68 to stay alongside Gerard and ensure the South African has at least shared the lead after all three rounds so far.

He hit the flag with a superb approach from a waste area at the 12th to set up the first of five birdies in a row and six in his last seven.

“I love it. I’ve won two events on the Sunshine Tour and that gives me confidence for this final round," said Jarvis, winner of November's Hyundai Open and Vodacom Origins of Golf.

"I’m really looking forward to it, and to being in the final group on the DP World Tour for a change. It’s going to be fun,” he said.

Playing partner Levy lost his DP World Tour card last season but is making the most of his first appearance of the new campaign and has been the nearest challenger to the leaders for three days in succession.

The Frenchman birdied the fourth and with a deft pitch up to the sixth before dropping a shot at the difficult ninth. A flawless back nine featured four birdies - the pick of them at the 15th set up by a spectacular pitch over a bunker that spun back down the slope and hit the edge of the hole to leave a short putt.

Schaper flew out of the traps with four birdies in the first five holes. He bogeyed the seventh, though he hit a cleverly judged pitch from a nasty lie in the rough to limit the damage and regained the shot at the next after a perfect approach with a hybrid.

The South African bogeyed the 11th but eagled the 13th with a long putt, birdied the next and tacked on a birdie-birdie finish to cap a superb day.

Spain's Manuel Elvira completed the top five at -12 after a solid round of 69, the highlight being an up-and-down from the sand at the sixth for one of his five birdies.

Defending champion John Parry was -11 to leave the Englishman sharing sixth place with South Africa's Michael Hollick and Sweden's Tobias Jonsson.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Windy Saturday AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open...Live scoreboard / weather

 DP World Tour : AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open  Weather  Tee Times

It is a windy 15-20mph ESE, overcast, warm 27*c Saturday to begin the weekend in Mauritius at this week's AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open for the 60+ players who made the cut at +1.

The overnight leader, 22 year old South African rookie Casey Jarvis is approaching the turn, -1 today, -13 his lead by a shot. He is looking for his 1st DP World Tour win.

While most of the big boys in the world of men's pro golf are home for Christmas, the PGA Tour on holiday since the Tour Championship away back in September.

Rory McIlroy was voted by the public the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in London last night, to cap off his "season that dreams are made of", he and  his Ryder Cup colleagues have finished a long world wide season, on a high note of course with their historic win at Bethpage.

However for those who are here, on this paradise island out in the Indian Ocean, 1200 miles from the African coast, it can be a life changing weekend.

For example Frenchman Alex Levy who lost his DP World Tour card last year, and missed out at Q School is here on a sponsor's invitation 68 66  T2 -12 looking for the win that would re gain his card, plus a 2 year exempt status. 

There is always something important to play for.

Follow the live scoring by clicking on my link above....

Bryan Angus

Casey Jarvis leads AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. Cockerill M/C .. 36 hole results /weather

   DP World Tour : AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open  Weather  Tee Times

A partly sunny 26*c, breezy 12-18mph E,  day on Mauritius with a 70% chance of showers, greeted the players this morning, not as nearly as severe as Thursday and the scores have reflected it with a 22 year old rookie South African, Casey Jarvis in the clubhouse with the lead at 67 65 -12, he made 9 birdies today. 

At the other end of the scoreboard, where the cut has been projected at +1, Aaron Cockerill is one of the guys looking to make it after an opening +5 77, he is in the late wave, opening with 2 birdies and 5 pars in his first 7 holes, he went on to post a gallant -4 68 missing the cut by a shot ! 

The cut line was +1 most all day until the latter stages of the round when it moved to E

Follow the live scoring by clicking on my leaderboard link above..

Bryan Angus

 EDIT >>>>Day 2 wrap up

Casey Jarvis opened up a two-shot lead at the midway point of the 2026 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

The South African, who shared the first-round lead with Scott Jamieson, shot 65 on Friday at Heritage La Réserve Golf Links to move to -12.

His nearest challenger was Alexander Levy, playing on a sponsor's invite after losing his DP World Tour card last season, whose 66 took him to -10 Spain's Manuel Elvira was another shot back at -9

The day belonged, though, to Jarvis. He opened with a birdie at the tenth and after giving that shot straight back at the next, he responded with back-to-back gains and another at the 16th.

He bogeyed the 17th but birdied the 18th, and then finished with a flourish as he birdied four in a row from the fifth before a closing par at the difficult ninth.

Jarvis - winner of two November events on the Sunshine Tour said: "I always love coming to Mauritius so to play nicely, to start well and then back it up with a good round today, lots of positives.

"There wasn't much wind out there until the last couple of holes so I took advantage of the good conditions.

"I feel like last week I got a little frustrated with my game and I'm just trying to have fun out here this week. I thought 'I'm in Mauritius, I might as well have fun' and yeah, it seems to be working.

"It's a different course to what I'm used to but it's a lot of fun. I like it that there are a few driveable holes out there.

"I've just got to stay patient, play my game, the game I've been playing the last two days, and we'll see what happens."

Levy chipped in at the tenth and holed a 50-foot putt at the 17th said after his bogey-free round: "Yeah, I played really solid today, I'm really proud.

"It was very tough conditions at the start, I managed myself to play really well on the front nine, didn't play my best on the back nine but I managed to put (together) a good score and I'm really pleased with that.

"It's an amazing place, I love to be here, I managed myself to be really focused on the golf course and enjoy afterwards and relax.

"(The course is) really nice, it asks a lot of you. You have to be really good from the tee, if you put the ball in a good spot from the tee you can manage to be aggressive and that's what I've tried to do this week. If you drive well you can manage to have some birdie chances."

Brandon Stone was fourth at -8 after a second consecutive 68, one shot ahead of fellow South Africans Herman Loubser 69 and 2017 champion Dylan Frittelli 69 and American Ryan Gerard 69.

Defending champion John Parry 68 was -6 alongside last week's Alfred Dunhill Championship winner Jayden Schaper 69, Michael Hollick 65, Francesco Laporta 67 and Tobias Jonsson 66. Jamieson followed his opening 67 with a level-par 72 to stay at -5

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Bryan Angus

Very windy Thursday sends scores soaring, AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open....Live scoreboard

  DP World Tour : AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open  Weather  Tee Times

A strong warm wind from the east gusting over 37mph greeted the players this morning on the paradise island of Mauritius, wonderful for the sailors, not so good for the golfers.

The clubhouse leaders are only at -4 as a result, veterans like past winner Dylan Frittelli, Frenchman Alex Levy at 68 are amongst them, lots of crooked numbers on cards today in the wind.

Canada's Aaron Cockerill was sent off the 10th tee on his island debut, the good news, 2 birdies, the bad 2 bogey's and a rare triple 8, the dreaded snowman on the par 5 15th for 39.

Coming back in he settled in with 6 pars and a birdie, however 1 bogey and a double bogey 5 at the par 3 7th for 38 and a T121 +5 77.

If you click on my weather icon above you will see the rest of the week will be "breezy 8-12mph E", not as difficult as today, watch for where the cut falls, probably around +2. 

Time on Mauritius is 9 hours ahead of EST.

More news to follow...

Bryan Angus