The Monday Mulligan: the week that was in golf …
- themondaymulligan
- Dec 18, 2025
- 5 min read
Marc Leishman gets it done and his efforts and commitment to supporting Aussie golf have paid off! Leish has been a massive supporter of attracting stringer fields down under and has put his money where his mouth is, giving up the opportunity to play events across the world with larger purses in favour of returning to home soil. It was excellent to see him get the win down in Victoria on the back of these efforts. Elsewhere we saw some great golf in the Grant Thornton Invitational where our PGA and LPGA Tour stars combined to put together a great showing. All that and plenty more covered in the recap below.
Marc Leishman claimed the title at the 2025 Victorian PGA Championship, ending a 17-year win drought on home soil in a dramatic finish. The 42-year-old Australian, a familiar face on both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, battled challenging, windy conditions throughout the week and ultimately secured victory with a clutch birdie on the 18th hole to finish one stroke ahead of fellow Victorian Josh Younger. Leishman closed with a four-over-par 76 in difficult conditions that saw only a handful of players break par on the final day. Entering the final round tied or near the lead after rounds of 71, 67, and 68, Leishman displayed grit despite a number of bogeys, showing resilience by fighting back late in the round. Younger held the lead deep into Sunday but faltered down the stretch, setting the stage for Leishman’s decisive approach shot and birdie-saving putt on the closing par-5. The victory marked Leishman’s second Victorian PGA Championship title, his first since winning the event in 2008, and was particularly special as his father Paul served as his caddie and his son Harvey supported him during the pro-am. Leishman’s triumph also boosted his position on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, moving him into second place and highlighting a consistent season that included strong finishes in other Australasian events. Young talents like Jimmy Zheng and Connor McDade also posted noteworthy performances, rounding out a competitive leaderboard amid tough scoring conditions for many professionals.
Marc Leishman breaks the drought down under with a win at the Victorian PGA Championship
(photo courtesy of: https://www.livgolf.com/)
South African Jayden Schaper captured his first DP World Tour title at the rain-impacted 2025 Alfred Dunhill Championship, delivering an emotional victory on home soil. The event, part of the Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned DP World Tour schedule, was reduced to 54 holes after persistent heavy rain and poor course conditions forced the abandonment of Saturday’s play, prompting organizers to shorten the tournament and modify a waterlogged par-5 into a temporary par-3. Schaper, just 24 years old, posted a solid 3-under (67) in the final round, highlighted by five birdies, to reach 16-under and force a dramatic sudden-death playoff with defending champion Shaun Norris, who had surged up the leaderboard with a blistering 62. After Norris parred the first extra hole, Schaper produced a spectacular eagle to clinch the title, a moment he described as a dream come true. Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra, who held the lead earlier in the week, finished strongly to take solo third at 15-under, while fellow South Africans Oliver Bekker, Christiaan Burke, and Louis Oosthuizen were tied for fourth at 13-under. The tournament’s pressure-packed finish highlighted Schaper’s composed play and clutch shot-making under testing conditions. His victory earned him valuable Race to Dubai points and a significant boost in the Official World Golf Ranking, moving him into the Top 100 for the first time in his career. Overall, the 2025 Alfred Dunhill Championship delivered excitement despite weather interruptions, showcasing emerging talent and strong local performances in one of the DP World Tour’s late-season stops.
Best of the Aussies was Austin Bautista who got off to a good start however unfortunately he did not make the weekend.
South Africa’s own Jayden Schaper secures his maiden DP World Tour title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg
(photo courtesy of: https://www.golfmonthly.com/)
The third annual Grant Thornton Invitational, a unique mixed-gender team golf event co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, delivered an exciting finish as Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin claimed the title with a record-setting performance. The 16-team event features one PGA and one LPGA pro per duo competing across three formats: scramble (Day 1), alternate shot (Day 2), and modified four-ball (final day) — creating an engaging test of teamwork and strategy. Novak and Coughlin finished at 28-under, setting a tournament scoring record and prevailing by three strokes over several strong challengers. They surged on Sunday’s modified four-ball with five birdies on the final six holes, combining Novak’s hot putting with Coughlin’s steady all-around play to separate themselves from the field. A tight leaderboard saw multiple teams tied for second, including Charley Hull & Michael Brennan, Nelly Korda & Denny McCarthy, and Jennifer Kupcho & Chris Gotterup, all finishing three strokes back. The competition, blending men’s and women’s talents, showcased standout rounds throughout the week, including a record 17-under (55) by the pairs of Lexi Thompson & Wyndham Clark and Hull & Brennan during the opening scramble format. The Invitational’s $4 million purse underscored its growing stature on the golf calendar, with the winning duo earning significant prize shares. Beyond competition, the event supports charitable causes and celebrates inclusivity by giving equal visibility and rewards to players from both tours. Overall, the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational combined high-level golf, innovative mixed formats, and memorable team achievements in one of the season’s most entertaining off-season events.
Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin set a new scoring record on their way to winning the Grant Thornton Invitational
(photo courtesy of: https://www.lpga.com/)
The 2025 Saudi Open, the final event of the Asian Tour season, concluded in an exciting week of golf at Dirab Golf & Country Club, where Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren emerged victorious. Hellgren shot consistent rounds of 66-65-67-67 to finish 23-under (265), winning by one stroke over Australia’s Jack Thompson and capturing the title in the US$1 million stroke-play event. The tournament opened with India’s Saptak Talwar setting a new course record of 8-under (64) in the first round, showcasing the scoring potential at Dirab and immediately placing pressure on the field. Defending champion John Catlin and Thompson hovered near the lead early, but Hellgren’s steady performance ultimately proved the difference. Throughout the week, Hellgren and Thompson traded momentum, but Hellgren’s ability to avoid bogeys in crucial moments gave him a slim edge. The pair both carded low rounds over the four days, with Ervin Chang and Charles Porter finishing tied for third at 269, four strokes behind the winner. The event drew a strong international field, including players from across Asia, Europe and Australasia, reflecting the Saudi Open’s growing prestige as a season finale on the Asian Tour calendar. Local talent also made an impression, with several Saudi professionals and amateurs competing and making the cut. Hellgren’s triumph in Saudi Arabia not only capped his season with a notable victory but also earned him valuable Official World Golf Ranking points, further boosting his global standing.
Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren wins the 2025 Saudi Open
(photo courtesy of: https://asiantour.com/)
Up Ahead
Not a massive amount of golf on at this time of the year as a few of the tours continue play, with many being done for the Christmas break and will start back up in the New Year. We will take this opportunity at The Monday Mulligan to take a short break for Christmas and will resume our recaps and previews in the new year. Looking forward to a massive 2026 in the world of golf! We wish everyone a safe break, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
That’s it for now, stay safe and play well!
Play well,
TMM
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