The International Swing: Casey Jarvis enjoys breakout stretch in Africa as Patrick Reed claims overall success

Such is the depth of talent on the DP World Tour it is rare that a player can ride the wave of momentum and win back-to-back, but could a new trend be emerging this season?

Through the opening two Global Swings on the 2026 Race to Dubai schedule, each has seen a player win titles over consecutive weeks.

After Jayden Schaper in the Opening Swing, it was the turn of fellow South African Casey Jarvis during the International Swing which drew to a close on Sunday.

With shifts in course challenges week-to-week, sustaining form – particularly mounting title challenges – is no mean feat, but it is perhaps counting for more this season with Patrick Reed having won twice in a three-event stretch too.

As players take stock during a rest week in the DP World Tour calendar, we review how the International Swing played out, pinpoint the standout acts, what it all means, and look ahead to the next stretch of golf in Asia.

How the International Swing unfolded

Dubai Invitational

A new year on the DP World Tour began with the bi-annual Dubai Invitational, returning to Dubai Creek Resort for its second edition. Played alongside a three-day Pro-Am, the 72-hole no-cut event enticed a plethora of high-calibre players to the United Arab Emirates. Among those, Rory McIlroy headed the field alongside defending champion Tommy Fleetwood as two of the world’s top three players competed. While McIlroy and then Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry made fast starts through the opening two days, it was Spaniard Nacho Elvira who took the limelight over the weekend as he emerged from a chaotic final-round leaderboard to claim his third DP World Tour title. "It means the world," the 38-year-old said. "If you told me on Tuesday that I'd be winning this tournament I'd have never believed you. It's a dream come true, especially having the family here. I've always dreamed to have my kids walking up to me with a win and anything that happens after this, nothing compares to this.”

Hero Dubai Desert Classic

From Dubai Creek to Emirates Golf Club, the DP World Tour visited a second European Tour Destinations venue in as many weeks for the Hero Dubai Desert. Often named as one of the most popular stops on the schedule among players, the first Rolex Series event of the season gathers a world-class field, and this year was no different. McIlroy, a record four-time winner over the Majlis Course was, as is often the case around the world, the pre-tournament favourite on the 20th anniversary of his debut in the event. Francesco Molinari was the initial pacesetter, but it was fellow Major Champion Patrick Reed who hit the front at the halfway stage before a five-under-par 67 on Saturday earned the American a four-shot lead. Despite only carding a 72 in the final round, Reed closed out a composed and comfortable success by that overnight margin. "I think the biggest thing this week that was so special is I've won on every tour except this one," Reed said at his winner's press conference. "Even though online it says I have three wins, one was a Major and two were WGC events. So, they are all co-sanctioned events. It's something that's always kind of been eating at me, sitting there not actually having a win over here."

Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship

Riding high on momentum and back inside the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Reed arrived at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship as the joint-favourite among the bookmakers alongside Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World leader Schaper. However, at halfway, Calum Hill was in position to go on and claim his third DP World Tour title after a flawless course-record equalling 61 in the second round saw him take a four-shot lead into the weekend. But that advantage was halved after 54 holes, with Freddy Schott chasing his maiden DP World Tour title his nearest challenger. A dramatic final round ensued, with several players making their push for the silverware. Reed was chief among those, having worked his way into contention after being ten shots adrift through the opening two rounds. But it was to be Schott who took home the acclaim in a three-man play-off featuring Reed and Hill, who had held a one-shot lead on the 72nd hole. “It's just amazing, I'm just extremely happy, surprised... I don't know what's happening right now," said Schott. "I'm just so happy. I could have done it the regular way, that would have also been fine! But to do it this way feels even more special so I'm just glad it happened this way."

Qatar Masters

The International Swing reached its midway point at the Qatar Masters. In a week that saw Pádraig Harrington become the 50th player to tee it up 500 times, it was fellow Major Champion Reed that arrived at Doha Golf Club as the man to beat. And that pre-tournament belief came to pass as he was quick out of the blocks on day one with a 65 to hold a share of the first-round lead alongside Daniel Hillier. A 67 saw him head into the weekend at the head of the pack, doubling his halfway advantage to lead by two heading into the final round. While it was far from plain sailing, with Oliver Lindell at one stage surging into a two-shot advantage, Reed showed his experience to overcome a sticky front nine and birdie three of the four holes immediately after reaching the turn to take back control. From there, he showed no likelihood of giving any opportunity for those still in the chase or to clubhouse leader Hill as he parred his way in for a two-shot victory and the fifth DP World Tour title of his career. “This little run I’ve had, two wins and a second, it’s awesome," he said after becoming the first American winner in Qatar. "We couldn't ask anything more than what we did. It’s special, to come out here especially to get two wins early on in the season, and hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”

Magical Kenya Open presented by absa

After the first rest week of the year, the Swing picked up in Kenya for the first event of a three-week stint in Africa. For the first time in five years, the event returned to Karen Country Club as a 144-player field assembled, including five of the six past champions since the tournament was added to the DP World Tour schedule in 2019. The early pace was set by first-round co-leaders Jarvis and Niklas Lemke, with the former ending days two and three in a share of the lead too. Njoroge Kibugu delighted the home crowds on day two, making the cut with an eagle at the 18th. History was also made as Celestin Nsazuwera became the first Rwandan to compete on the DP World Tour. At the end of a thrilling final round halted twice by stormy conditions, Jarvis carded six birdies and closed with a second eagle of the day to card a 62 and win by three strokes from Qualifying School graduate Davis Bryant. In doing so, the 22-year-old claimed his maiden DP World Tour title. "It's amazing," he said. "I've actually never won in front of my dad before, I've wanted to win in front of him so badly, and to finally do it when he's here, I can't explain to you the emotions. I was so nervous coming down the last two so yeah, it feels great."

Investec South African Open Championship

The action then moved to South Africa for the first of two back-to-back events co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour. In a field headlined by Reed - by then confirmed as the winner of the International Swing with an unaissable 1,025-point lead at the top of the rankings - there was much still to play for at Stellenbosch Golf Club. The South African Open, golf’s second oldest national, provided a pathway into the Masters and The Open. Five shots adrift of the lead at the halfway stage, Jarvis hauled himself to the top of the leaderboard with a third-round 64 and closed out his week with a 67 to seal another three-shot success and become the seventh different home winner in the last seven editions of this event. More importantly, certainly personally, he secured debuts at both the Masters and The Open later this season, with Frenchman Frederic Lacroix and Italian Francesco Laporta also sealing births at Royal Birkdale via The Open Qualifying Series. "I feel on top of the world in this moment," Jarvis said. "I feel absolutely incredible. To win in front of my home crowd in my home Open is just absolutely fantastic, I've got no words!" There was also reason for Hennie du Plessis to celebrate as the South African claimed $100,000 through the Course Record Presented by Nexo.

Joburg Open

For the second time this season, DP World Tour history was on the line as Jarvis sought to  do what compatriot Jayden Schaper was unable to do in December and join Sir Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros as just the third player to win three consecutive events. Six shots adrift of leader Brandon Robinson Thompson at halfway, the prospects seemed slim but that all changed when Jarvis posted a 64 in the third round to reduce the gap to two as countryman Hennie du Plessis claimed the solo lead. But from being in pole position for victory when he reached the turn with a three-shot lead, Du Plessis dropped three shots at the 15th and 16th to fade out of contention. In a dramatic climax, Jarvis bogeyed the 17th before missing a birdie putt at the last to finish in a share of second alongside Robinson Thompson as he three-putted the last, with fellow Englishman Dan Bradbury holding his nerve to get up and down from behind the back of the 18th green for par to seal his second Joburg Open title at Houghton Golf Club. "It feels really good to put it together on the back nine, probably wasn't expecting it as Hennie was playing so well, but yeah, feels amazing," said Bradbury. "Casey and Brandon were obviously playing amazing because I saw their names on the leaderboard all the way round - it was tight all the way round wasn't it? - but I somehow managed to get it done in the end."

The standouts of the International Swing

Patrick Reed

The American enjoyed a memorable month-long stint in the Middle East on his way to winning the International Swing. After beginning the year with a tie for 26th at the Dubai Invitational, he won twice either side of missing out on a third in a play-off. Across his three appearances at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship and Dubai Invitational, he was a combined 47 under par. He broke new ground in his career by playing for the first time in South Africa, following a top-30 finish at Stellenbosch with a tie for tenth in Joburg. With four Major Championships and four Rolex Series events ahead of him, Reed has his eyes firmly set on becoming the second American after Collin Morikawa to win the Race to Dubai.

Casey Jarvis

If Reed was the star in the Middle East, there is no denying the South African was the big winner during the stretch in Africa. Already with a top ten to his name in Bahrain - his second of the season - the 22-year-old won twice in as many weeks, before coming agonisingly short of a historic third title in Johannesburg. His sequence of results in recent weeks has seen him rise from 195th to 69th in the Official World Golf Ranking. Major appearances at the Masters and The Open await over the coming months, so there is much to look forward to. Such has been his breakthrough, earning a dual member PGA TOUR card will be the least of his expectations across the rest of the season.

How it finished - The top five on the International Swing rankings

To view the final International Swing rankings in full, click here.

What does it mean?

As winner of the International Swing, Reed ensures himself entry into all events in the second phase of the season, the Back 9, and takes home a US$200,000 bonus.

Du Plessis has earned a spot into the Genesis Scottish Open - the second of five Rolex Series events this season - as the leading available member not otherwise exempt from the International Swing Rankings.

And as the four players from Category 18 to have earned the most Race to Dubai ranking points at the conclusion of the Joburg Open (excluding the four members already re-ranked after the Opening Swing Ranking), Bryant, Nathan Kimsey, Gregorio De Leo and Daniel Rodrigues are likely to have boosted their playing opportunities during the rest of the season.

What's next?

Taking place from March 19, the Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO marks the start of the third of the season's five Global Swings - the Asian Swing. From Mission Hills Haikou, we head to DLF Golf & Country Club for the Hero Indian Open. There is then an off week, before DP World Tour members head to the first men's Major of the season - the Masters Tournament*. There is then another off week before the action returns to China for the Volvo China Open, before the Swing draws to a close with the Turkish Airlines Open. The leading three DP World Tour members at the close of the Swing will qualify for this year's US PGA Championship.

*Like in 2024 and 2025, all four Major Championships do not count towards the swing rankings during the 2026 Race to Dubai.

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