The Monday Mulligan: the week that was in golf …
- themondaymulligan
- Nov 17
- 7 min read
It took four playoff holes to decide our NSW Open Champion in Australia whilst it only took the one extra hole for Matt Fitzpatrick to get it done in the UAE. Overall, an excellent week of results and captivating storylines across the world of golf. Catch all that and the week ahead in the recap below.
The 2025 Ford NSW Open, held at The Vintage Golf Club in the Hunter Valley, produced a dramatic finish. The tournament ended in a thrilling four-hole playoff, with Chris Wood emerging victorious over James Marchesani. During regulation play, Wood, Marchesani and Will Florimo all tied at 6-under (278). Florimo bowed out early in the playoff, having posted the week’s lowest final-round score, a bogey-free 66 in challenging, windy conditions. The climax came on the fourth extra hole: Wood’s tee shot caromed off a tree back into the fairway, setting him up for a precise sand-wedge shot. He then sank a tough birdie putt to clinch the title. Wood called it the biggest victory of his career, praising his composure under pressure. Meanwhile, defending champion Lucas Herbert, who many had expected to mount a challenge, struggled on his final day, finishing well off the pace. Overall, the event highlighted Wood’s resilience, Marchesani’s strong week, and the unpredictable challenge posed by The Vintage course, particularly in windy conditions, making for a compelling finish to the NSW Open.
Chris Wood breaks the drought with a win at the 2025 Ford NSW Open
(photo courtesy of: https://aapnews.aap.com.au/)
The 2025 DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai ended in fireworks, with Matt Fitzpatrick claiming his third title at the season finale after edging Rory McIlroy in a tense playoff. Fitzpatrick closed his final round with a bogey-free 66 to post 18-under and set the clubhouse target. McIlroy, trailing in the last group, produced a picture-perfect finish: a long 15-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th to force an extra hole. But in the playoff, McIlroy’s tee shot drifted into the water, leading to a bogey, while Fitzpatrick calmly made par to seal the win. Though he fell short of the title, McIlroy’s runner-up helped him clinch the Race to Dubai for the seventh time, setting a new benchmark ahead of Seve Ballesteros. McIlroy, visibly emotional, said the achievement of surpassing Ballesteros was “more than he ever dreamed.” For Fitzpatrick, the victory was especially sweet, it marked his third DP World Tour Championship win (previous wins came in 2016 and 2020) and capped off a strong season, lifting him to third in the final Race to Dubai rankings. Meanwhile, McIlroy’s consistency across the season rewarded him with the big bonus payout from the year-long standings.
Best of the Aussies was, once again, Elvis Smylie who finished in a tie for 42nd where he battled hard all week and should be extremely proud of his rookie season on tour. Only upwards from here for the young Aussie!
Matt Fitzpatrick holds of Rory McIlroy in a playoff to win the DP World Tour Championship
(photo courtesy of: www.europeantour.com)
The 2025 Butterfield Bermuda Championship, contested at Port Royal Golf Course in Bermuda, concluded in challenging, blustery conditions with Adam Schenk finally breaking through for his first PGA Tour victory. Schenk posted a four-round total of 12-under (272), surviving strong winds that gusted around 25–35 mph and outlasting the field on a demanding seaside layout. He closed with an even-par 71 on Sunday to hold off Chandler Phillips, who also shot 71 in the final round and finished solo second, just one stroke back. Tied for third, at 10-under, were Alex Smalley, Vince Whaley, Frankie Capan III, Takumi Kanaya, and Max McGreevy, all of whom carded strong performances in difficult weather. Schenk’s win not only earned him the $1.08 million winner’s cheque but also 500 FedEx Cup Fall points, boosting his standing on the PGA Tour. The tough conditions throughout the week, particularly the punishing wind, made par a strong score, and Skench’s calmness under pressure was a key to his breakthrough. Meanwhile, veteran Adam Hadwin had led early, sitting at 11-under through two rounds, but couldn’t close it out under the gusty final-day conditions.
Best of the Aussies was Harrison Endycott, who unfortunately couldn’t make the most of getting into the field, finishing at +2 and in T52.
Adam Schenk breaks through in Bermuda for his first PGA Tour victory
(photo courtesy of: https://thegolfnewsnet.com/)
At Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, the 2025 The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge culminated with Linn Grant capturing her second-career LPGA Tour title. Grant finished at 19-under (261), carding rounds of 68-63-65-65 to win by three strokes over Jennifer Kupcho, who closed as runner-up. Gaby López secured solo third place at 15-under, while Charley Hull, Auston Kim, and Lucy Li tied for fourth at 14-under. Grant’s strong performance on the greens, combined with steady ball striking, anchored her impressive margin. The tournament featured a deep field, including world-class names and past champions. Nelly Korda, a three-time winner of the event, competed again but was unable to defend her title. Meanwhile, Kai Trump made headlines in her LPGA debut after receiving a sponsor’s exemption. Though she struggled in challenging conditions, she expressed excitement about competing and learning on the big stage. Off the course, the tournament continued its charitable “BayCare Birdies for Babies” initiative, donating funds for every birdie made over the four rounds to support neonatal healthcare through BayCare’s Morton Plant Mease and Mease Countryside hospitals. Overall, the week at Pelican was marked by Grant’s composed play, the depth of the field, and the tournament’s strong community impact.
Best of the Aussies was Grace Kim who put forward a strong showing with a T9 finish at 12-under.
Linn Grant wins her second LPGA Tour title at The ANNIKA at the Pelican Golf Club
(photo courtesy of: https://thegolfnewsnet.com/)
The 2025 Taiwan Glass Taifong Open, part of the Asian Tour, wrapped up in Changhua at Taifong Golf Club from November 13–16. The US$400,000 event drew a field of 123 players from 24 countries, the biggest international turnout in its history. Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, a crowd favourite and former champion, opened strongly with a bogey-free 65 on Thursday to take an early lead. He backed it up on Day 2 with another 65, running up to 14-under and extending his lead to five shots over Thailand’s Poosit Supupramai and Ekpharit Wu. But over the weekend, Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu mounted a comeback. He carded rounds of 65 and 67 to finish at 20-under (268), nabbing his first Asian Tour title. Meanwhile, Hung stumbled in the later holes, closing with a 70 to finish second at 18-under (270). Coming in tied for third, six shots off the lead at 12-under, were Jose Toledo and Charlie Lindh, each putting together steady final rounds. With the win, Wu earned US$72,000 and significantly boosted his Asian Tour Order of Merit ranking. The tournament showcased both local talent and rising international stars, and Wu’s breakthrough win made for a compelling conclusion to the week.
Best of the Aussies was Todd Sinnott who popped up with a strong performance at T15 on 6-under.
Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu dominates the weekend to secure his maiden Asian Tour title
(photo courtesy of: www.asiantour.com)
Up Ahead
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia backs it up again and we have a tantalizing run of golf on the horizon in Australia. This week the fellas will head north of the border for the Queensland PGA Championship. This event is being played at Nudgee GC on the Kurrai Course. Players will tee it up for a share of the $AUD 250,000 prize pool where Phoenix Campbell was our victor last year. Meanwhile, our professional women on the WPGA Tour of Australasia remain on a break for a few more weeks before their regional qualifiers resume.
The PGA Tour is off to one of their favourite events this week, the RSM Classic. Players will tee it up at the Sea Island Golf Club for their chance at the 500 FedEx Cup Fall points on offer as well as the purse worth $USD 7 million. Maverick McNealy won this event last year which was a catalyst in his strong run of form which many in the field will be hoping to replicate.
The LPGA Tour heads to their season finale, the CME Group Tour Championship where Jeeno Thitikul is our defending champion. This event carries a prize pool worth $USD 11 million along with 500 points towards the Race to CME Globe. We have four Aussies who have made it into the field off the back of a strong showing throughout this season: Minjee Lee, Grace Kim, Stephanie Kyriacou and Hannah Green. Go well Ladies!
The Asian Tour is back into an International Series Event this week which should attract a strong field from across the world of golf. This week sees players descend upon the Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia for the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers. Players are competing for a purse worth $USD 5 million where Joaquin Niemann was our winner last year.
The Ladies European Tour remain on a break before they land in Spain for their final event of the year, the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open de Espana presented by OYSHO.
The DP World Tour joins the Liv Golf League in being done for the year. Updates on those leagues will only be included following any significant news which the everyday punter should be aware of and have some talking points for the office environment come Monday.
That’s it for this week, I hope it covered what you were after and if not, feel free to get in touch and offer some suggestions so we can improve the blog here at The Monday Mulligan. We are stoked to be back and capturing the highs and lows across the world of golf.
That’s it for now, stay safe and play well!
Play well,
TMM
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