Golf Tournament Updates

European Tour

Event: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Course: Yas Links Golf Club
Yardage: 7,425 yards, Par: 72
Total Prize Money: $9 million, Winner’s Share: $1.5 million
Broadcasting: Thursday to Saturday from 2-8 a.m., Sunday from 1:30-7:30 a.m. (Golf Channel)
Defending Champion: Victor Perez
Current Race to Dubai Leader: Rory McIlroy
Last Outcome: Byeong Hun An triumphed in the Genesis Championship.

This tournament marks the start of a pair of events comprising the DP World Tour playoffs, culminating next week with a Tour Championship in Dubai. The lineup includes ten of the world’s top 50 players. Rory McIlroy returns from a month off to participate in the final two events of the European tour. Notably, three LIV Golf players – Tyrrell Hatton, Joaquin Niemann, and Adrian Meronk – are also in the field. Niemann’s recent performances include a tie for fourth in Dubai, third in Oman, and a tie for ninth at the Olympics throughout his three non-major appearances this year. Adam Scott is making his fourth appearance in a regular European tour event this season. Historically, this tournament was part of the Middle East swing at the start of the year. Tommy Fleetwood, a two-time champion in Abu Dhabi, will also be competing, while Billy Horschel, currently ranked fourth in the Race to Dubai and winner of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, will not participate.

Next week’s event: DP World Tour Championship.

PGA Tour

Event: World Wide Technology Championship
Location: Los Cabos, Mexico
Course: El Cardonal at Diamante
Yardage: 7,452 yards, Par: 72
Total Prize Money: $7.2 million, Winner’s Share: $1.296 million
Broadcasting: Thursday to Sunday from 2-5 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Defending Champion: Erik van Rooyen
Current FedEx Cup Champion: Scottie Scheffler
Last Outcome: Nico Echavarria won the Zozo Championship.

This event continues a trend of less competitive fields in North America during the FedEx Cup Fall season. Cameron Young returns to play for the first time since August’s BMW Championship, ranking as the highest in the field at No. 33. Lucas Glover follows closely in the second spot among the top 50, being ranked No. 47. The tournament winner will earn an invitation to the Masters, yet 114 players from the field of 120 do not qualify for Augusta National next year. There are three tournaments left for players to break into the top 125 and secure their cards for the following year. Joel Dahmen has seen a slight rise in standings, moving up to No. 124 after tying for 41st in Japan. Also, this course marks the first use of a Tiger Woods-designed course on the PGA Tour. Additionally, Billy Andrade, serving as an ambassador for World Wide Technology, will participate on a sponsor exemption, marking his first PGA Tour appearance since 2014.

Next week’s event: Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

LPGA Tour

Event: Lotte Championship
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Course: Hoakalei Country Club
Yardage: 6,536 yards, Par: 72
Total Prize Money: $3 million, Winner’s Share: $450,000
Broadcasting: Wednesday to Saturday from 7-10 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Defending Champion: Grace Kim
Current Race to CME Globe Leader: Nelly Korda
Last Outcome: Rio Takeda triumphed at the Toto Japan Classic.

This tournament is set to kick off on Wednesday and wrap up by Saturday before the LPGA Tour heads to Florida for its final two events of the season. Among the top 10 players in the women’s world rankings, Jin Young Ko and Ayaka Furue are the only ones featured in this week’s lineup. Marina Alex is back on the course after a near miss in a six-hole playoff at the Toto Japan Classic. Nelly Korda has clinched LPGA player of the year due to Furue’s inability to secure a win in Japan. Takeda’s victory at the Toto Japan Classic adds to her impressive total of seven wins in the Japan LPGA this year. Additionally, Rio Takeda becomes the 19th individual to win on the LPGA Tour this season, having the option to claim immediate membership or wait until 2025. Haeran Ryu has garnered an impressive 13 top-10 finishes in her 24 starts this year. Among the participants is 14-year-old Honorine Nobuta Ferry, who made her Japan LPGA debut recently.

Next week’s event: The Annika.

PGA Tour Champions

Event: Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Course: Phoenix Country Club
Yardage: 6,860 yards, Par: 71
Total Prize Money: $3 million, Winner’s Share: $450,000
Broadcasting: Thursday to Sunday from 5-7 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Defending Champion: Steven Alker
Current Charles Schwab Cup Leader: Ernie Els
Last Outcome: Padraig Harrington won the Simmons Bank Championship.

This championship concludes the PGA Tour Champions season, where the player topping the Charles Schwab Cup points will receive a $1 million bonus. Ernie Els is vying for his first title in the Schwab Cup, while the top 36 players on the points list have secured their spots in this season finale. Notably, Steve Stricker will not participate, maintaining a trend of not appearing in postseason events throughout his career. Stephen Ames leads the standings with three victories so far this year but has not won in nearly three months. Furthermore, Long Island’s club professional, Jason Caron, will compete with a full PGA Tour Champions card for 2025, having last played professional golf in 2009 to focus on his club role. Meanwhile, Bernhard Langer has one final opportunity this year to continue his streak of wins for 18 consecutive years on the Tour, currently sitting at No. 22 in the Schwab Cup rankings.

Next week: End of season.

Other Tours

• Japan Golf Tour: Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo Masters, Taiheiyo Club (Gotemba), Shizuoka, Japan. Defending Champion: Shugo Imahira.
• Sunshine Tour: Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational, Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa. Defending Champion: Gerhard Pepler.
• Japan LPGA: Itoen Ladies Golf Tournament, Great Island Club, Chiba, Japan. Defending Champion: Mao Saigo.
• Korea LPGA: SK Telecom-SK Shieldus Championship, La Vie est Belle Country Club, Chuncheon, South Korea. Defending Champion: Jinhee Im.
• Legends Tour: Farmfoods European Senior Masters, La Manga Club, Murcia, Spain. Defending Champion: Patrik Sjöland.