With the end of the season fast approaching, players on both major tours will be looking for some strong late-season form as they look to build to 2026.
This past weekend was no different, with one player- Xander Schauffele- returning to former glories while another- Marco Penge- punctuated what has been a remarkable breakthrough campaign with the most meaningful win of his career.
Trying times for former World No.2
Xander Schauffele enjoyed a career-defining 2024 campaign, winning both the PGA and Open Championships to shake off the unwanted moniker of ‘world’s best player without a major’. The tee-to-green dynamo looked like the one player in the world who could consistently challenge Scheffler’s dominance of the game (sorry Rory). But he sustained a rib injury in mid-December, completely hampering his 2025 preparations. He showed flashes of brilliance this year, picking up top-eight finsiihes at the Masters, Open and Scottish Open. Schauffele has looked like a shadow of the player that went toe-to-toe with Scheffler last year.
Schauffele picks up hugely sentimental victory
Schauffele found what he was looking for in this weekend’s spiritual homecoming, breaking his trophy drought with a one-shot victory at the Baycurrent Classic in Yokohama, Japan (curious that his last two PGA Tour victories have come outside of America). A San Diego native, Schauffele’s mother, Ping-Yi Chen, was born in Chinese Taipei but grew up in Japan. Schauffele feels a real kinship to the home of his grandparents, winning Olympic Gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which was really a proof of concept for his later Major triumphs). And he continued his love affair with the Land of the Rising Sun, outlasting Max Greyserman by one stroke to secure his 10th PGA Tour title.
He was virtually flawless on Sunday, shooting a final round of 64 to end the year on a gigantic high (he was embraced by both his parents and grandparents at the 72nd hole). Schauffele has enjoyed a roller-coaster few months, with his wife welcoming the birth of their first child in August before the entire Ryder Cup debacle. I firmly believe that Schauffele is primed for a stellar 2026 campaign. Sidenote: Matt McCraty blew a chance at creating history on Sunday, losing a ball on the 18th when Jim Furyk’s record 58 was beckoning (he would ultimately sign off with a sluggish 60).
Penge jumps to 2nd in the Race to Dubai standings
In terms of importance, Marco Penge’s victory at the Open de Espana eclipses Schauffele’s comeback win by miles. The Englishman has been a revelation on this year’s DP World Tour, claiming three titles as part of a vanguard of young European talent that includes the likes of Kristoffer Reitan and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen. Penge endured some troubles at the Open de Espana, breaking his pitching wedge when recovering from the trees in the 3rd round. He showed some nerves on Sunday, ultimately parlaying a four-shot 3rd round lead into a tense playoff win over Dan Brown. The win catapults him to 2nd in the live Race to Dubai standings, virtually guaranteeing him a US PGA tour card for next season.
The Rahm stamp of approval
Moreover, the win also ensured Penge of qualification for next year’s Masters and Open Championship. The DP World Tour has upped the ante during this year’s ‘Back 9’ playoff events, increasing prizemoney and offering many more incentives for the top pros. One of those incentives guaranteed the Open de Espana victor a spot in next season’s Masters and Open Championships. Jon Rahm- who is still embroiled in a bitter legal dispute with the tour regarding fines accrued for playing in LIV events- was full of praise for the tour, celebrating their decision to essentially elevate the status of the Spanish national open.
