Eight Pro Golf Takeaways From Our Last International Trip of 2025

My sleep is still out of whack, going on day 4 of a jetlag battle following a recent 10-day reporting trip for GOLF Magazine. I was in Dubai for the DP World Tour Championship before racing too Manchester and Lancashire in western england – you can piece together clues to guess what story we’ve been chasing. but as hazy as my surroundings feel at the moment, a few moments and memories remain vivid. A transoceanic chase has filled my mind with a whirlwind of languages and climates and cultures,and several pinch-me chances to take note of where I am and,importantly,who is in front of me.

There were pro golfers playing for their jobs, like Laurie Canter, the Boy Who LIV’d (and may again). There were other golfers showing how much it meant, like Rory McIlroy crying about his father. There were daily shuttle rides with caddies spent solving the problems of the sport – in a welcome twist, the loopers shared a hotel with golf media.And while it was the final tournament of the season on the DP World Tour, the next season starts so soon it was easy to start looking forward.

Here are eight pro golf takeaways from our last international trip of 2025.

1. Jon Rahm‘s absence is felt.

It was cute to have Marco Penge fans believing their man could take down Rory McIlroy. Penge had a puncher’s chance entering the final week of the season, but that evaporated when he shot 74 alongside McIlroy in the first round. rory beat him by eight, effectively ending the Race to Dubai upon arrival. And while McIlroy’s seventh season-long title was well earned,I couldn’t help but wonder if it was easier for him than perhaps it should have been.

This is not to say that McIlroy was anything but brilliant in 2025. But as I walked around the DPWT championship, taking note of the banners with players faces lining the driveway – placed in order of their Race to Dubai ranking – I was left wondering. Where is Jon Rahm?

It’s not mcilroy’s fault that Rahm – or, semi-related, Viktor Hovland – was absent, but it feels relevant that McIlroy’s best competition for Best International Golfer simply didn’t make the DPWT playoffs. Rahm was excellent in 2025, too, but 14 of his 21 tournament starts came at LIV Golf. Another four were majors, where he made all four cuts and contended in two. That left just three true, non-major DPWT events for Rahm in 2025 – his home Open in Spain, the essentially mandatory Ryder Cup prep at Wentworth and the Dubai Desert Classic in January, where he missed the cut.

So yes, a weird year for rahm, who declared his desire for a lengthier offseason and than acted on it. But his absence was felt in Dubai and left me thinking how he and McIlroy are on such different roads. McIlroy has won four straight season-long titles. McIlroy now has an award named after him – at just 36 years old – given out by the DPWT. McIlroy is the one crying in press conferences about the importance of Seve Ballesteros – Rahm’s hero.

Five Things I Thought About This Week in Golf

1. Rory’s Seve Revelation Feels…Right

Rory McIlroy’s win at the Dubai Desert classic felt different. Not as it was his first victory as the 2023 Scottish Open, or because it vaulted him back to No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, but because of who was there to see it. His dad, Gerry, was on the bag, and the post-round interview with Shane Bacon felt like a key unlocking a deeper understanding of McIlroy’s career.

We’ve always known Gerry was a huge influence, but the specifics of that influence – the stories of his dad sneaking him onto courses, the shared obsession with Seve Ballesteros – felt new. It’s a beatiful narrative: a son following in his father’s footsteps, and learning about his brilliance right around the time when fanhood begins. Right at the moment when Rory gets obsessed with the game.

We know that Rory always had the legend of Tiger Woods and his records or his Nike clothes or his swing to obsess over,but a special derivative of that young golf obsession is indexing the records and style of your dad’s favorite player. The meaning of the name Seve was hardened into stone for McIlroy, and it is just now becoming so obvious to us (and maybe more clear to Rory, too) what Seve meant to his journey.

It truly seems a truism of life in sports that fathers pass down their love of a game or a team or individuals to their children at a time when our brains will never let us forget them.For me, growing up in Northeastern Wisconsin, that was Brett Favre and no one else was close. What’s different for McIlroy is he gets to live out his dreams while still invoking the person and memories that helped launch those dreams, all alongside a very nimble and mobile father, who must really enjoy watching.

2.The PGA Tour’s New World Order is Here

The FedEx Cup Playoffs are over, but the reverberations are still being felt. The new PGA Tour, post-Strategic Alliance with the DP World Tour, is taking shape, and it’s…different. The changes to qualifying, the Signature Events, the increased emphasis on the top players – it all feels like a intentional attempt to create a more compelling, more concentrated product.

But is it working? The early returns are mixed. The Signature Events have generally been well-received, with strong fields and exciting finishes. But the qualifying changes have left some players feeling disenfranchised,and the overall sense is that the Tour is becoming increasingly top-heavy.

The biggest question mark remains the DP World Tour pathway. The agreement allows for 10 players to earn full PGA Tour status each year, but the early results have been underwhelming. Only two of the 10 who earned cards in 2024 retained full status for 2025, and one of this year’s crop has already committed to LIV Golf. Is 10 too high a number? Should the PGA Tour re-evaluate the criteria for awarding cards? These are questions that need to be addressed if the Strategic Alliance is going to be a success.

3. Scottie Scheffler is Operating on Another Level

Let’s be honest, Scottie Scheffler is playing golf from another planet right now. His ball-striking is otherworldly, his putting is solid, and his mental game is ice-cold. He’s not just winning tournaments, he’s dominating them.

What’s most impressive about scheffler is his consistency. He’s not prone to the big meltdowns or the inexplicable errors that plague so many other top players. He just goes out there and plays his game, week after week, and the results speak for themselves.

The scary part for the rest of the PGA Tour is that Scheffler still seems to have room for betterment. If he can continue to refine his game and stay healthy, he could be on track to become one of the greatest golfers of all time.

4. 10 dual-membership cards feels like a lot now.

The last two weeks – both in Dubai and in Georgia, at the RSM Classic – decided so much. Ten players in Dubai earned full status on the PGA Tour for 2026. Similarly, about five pros held on tight to full status on the PGA Tour, while a couple dozen were left on the outside looking in at what could have been. It’s a fascinating time of year for the sickos who understand these depths of pro golf, but while we revel in the emotions of those who got in and those who missed out, it’s worth wondering if we have the algebra correct.

For the first time, the PGA Tour has been trimmed to roughly 135 full-status members – down from about 160 two years ago – wherein full status

Golf’s Shifting Landscape: middle East Expansion and Open Championship Updates

Golf is experiencing a significant surge in the Middle East. the region is attracting major tournaments and investment, fundamentally changing the sport’s global footprint. This isn’t just about money; it’s about building a lasting golf culture.

1. LIV Golf’s Continued Presence

LIV Golf continues to establish itself in the region,with events planned for Saudi Arabia. This demonstrates the financial power driving the league and its commitment to expanding its reach. Expect more announcements regarding events and player signings.

2. Dubai Desert Classic’s Ryder Cup Connection

many players from Ryder Cup Europe will compete in the Dubai Desert Classic shortly after the Ryder Cup.This highlights the growing importance of the Middle east swing for top European golfers.

3. Hero Cup Remains a Key Event

During Ryder Cup years, the Hero Cup will continue.This team-building event serves as a crucial growth platform for future Ryder Cup team members. It’s a breeding ground for talent and fosters team cohesion.

4. Middle East’s Evolving Backdrop

The landscape of the Middle East, particularly cities like dubai and Abu Dhabi, is rapidly changing. Immense wealth is fueling development and transforming the region’s skyline. This evolution extends to golf, with new courses and facilities emerging.

5. The Rise of private Golf Clubs

The launch of the first private golf club in the U.A.E., southeast of dubai, signifies a growing demand for exclusive golf experiences. This injects more Western golf culture into the region and signals a long-term commitment to the sport.

6. A Remarkable Conversion

It’s striking to consider that no Dubai golf courses existed just 40 years ago. The speed of development is remarkable, and the future of golf in the Middle East looks incredibly bright.

7. A Busy Season for European Players

European golfers face a busy schedule, balancing events in the Middle East with commitments elsewhere.Many will compete in Saudi Arabia shortly after the Dubai Desert Classic.

8. Royal Birkdale is (almost) ready

Royal Birkdale, the 2025 Open Championship venue, is undergoing significant changes. While the course will retain its core character, the finishing stretch of holes will be dramatically different from the 2017 edition.

The par-3 14th, famous for Jordan spieth’s remarkable shot, is gone. The 15th, where Spieth made eagle and famously told his caddie to “Go get that!”, has been shortened into a par 4 with a new green. Some may lament these changes to history, but the course is adapting for a new era of championship golf.