The International Swing’s opening four-event stretch in the desert is at a close, bringing us to our first rest week of the year on the DP World Tour.
After a succession of stops in the Middle East, encompassing back-to-back events in Dubai, before visits to the Kingdom of Bahrain and then Qatar, the Race to Dubai schedule will soon be continuing its global odyssey with a trio of back-to-back events in Africa.
So, what’s unfolded so far? Who have been the standout performers, and what do their performances mean for them? We’ve broken down an eventful start to the year, while also looking ahead at what is to come in the second half of our five Global Swings.
From Dubai to Qatar, with Bahrain in between
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.”
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 stellar 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."
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 Jayden 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."
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.”
What does it mean for the Rankings?
Across a four-event stretch in the Middle East, Reed has built a 1,000+ point lead in the International Swing Rankings. He has also overtaken Schaper, who won back-to-back events on his way to topping the Opening Swing, at the summit of the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World. Such has been the American's form, he has climbed from 41st to 17th in the Official World Golf Ranking - his highest position since 2021.
| International Swing position | Player | Tournaments Played | International Swing points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Reed | 4 | 1,759.70 |
| 2 | Nacho Elvira | 4 | 734.62 |
| 3 | Calum Hill | 4 | 710.50 |
| 4 | Daniel Hillier | 4 | 637.42 |
| 5 | Freddy Schott | 2 | 607.00 |
| 6 | Andy Sullivan | 4 | 594.20 |
| 7 | Julien Guerrier | 4 | 536.80 |
| 8 | Jayden Schaper | 4 | 333.18 |
| 9 | Johannes Veerman | 4 | 307.05 |
| 10 | David Puig | 2 | 294.83 |
To view the International Swing rankings in full, click here.
The Swing standouts in the desert
Patrick Reed
The American has enjoyed a memorable month-long stint in the Middle East. After beginning the year with a tie for 26th at the Dubai Invitational, he has since 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 is a combined 47 under par. Such is the points haul he has amassed on the Race to Dubai Rankings so far this season, his total is already more points than the player last season who earned the final PGA TOUR card. But with four Major Championships and four Rolex Series events ahead of him, Reed has his eye on becoming the second American after Colin Morikawa to win the Race to Dubai.
Calum Hill
The Scot may not have won during the International Swing but he can take plenty of positives from his performances. Beaten in a play-off at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, he put that disappointment behind him to card a Sunday 67 at the Qatar Masters and finish runner-up for a second consecutive week. A missed cut at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic saw him drop to 194th in the world rankings but his subsequent fine response has seen him rise to 124th. Having won his second DP World Tour title at the Joburg Open last year, he should be full of confidence for when he does he come to play during the upcoming three-event stretch in Africa.
Nacho Elvira
The Spaniard is second only to the red-hot Reed in the Swing Rankings after a terrific start to the year. He secured his third DP World Tour title at the Dubai Invitational, emerging the victor from a stellar field that featured Major winners, and the 38-year-old has since finished seventh in Bahrain and 14th in Qatar after a missed cut at the season's opening Rolex Series event in Dubai. He is seventh in the Race to Dubai Rankings too, meaning dual membership with the PGA TOUR is likely to be in his sights as the season progresses.
Daniel Hillier
An ever-present in the Middle East, the New Zealander has been a regular presence on the first page of leaderboards over the last month. Runner-up at the Dubai Invitational, he has since added another top five in Bahrain and finished no worse than a tie for 26th at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic across his other two starts. He was firmly in the picture to win his second DP World Tour title in Qatar over the weekend but perhaps his efforts in recent weeks caught up with him as he stumbled to a closing 75 to settle for a tie for 20th at Doha Golf Club. Still, despite that dissapointing finish, he did enough to climb back into the world's top 100.
What's at play?
As well as silverware and valuable Race to Dubai and Official World Golf Ranking points, there is plenty to be decided over the International Swing run-in.
As for each Global Swing, the leading player is crowned Swing Champion and gains entry into every event in Phase Two of the season - the Back 9 - while also securing a US$200,000 bonus, with a spot at the Genesis Scottish Open also available to the highest player in the Rankings not already exempt.
The Investec South African Open Championship will also offer an invite to the Masters Tournament for its champion, while the top three players not already exempt will earn a place in the field for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale via The Open Qualifying Series.
What's still to come?
As was the case last year, the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa marks the first of three consecutive events in Africa. The Investec South African Open Championship then takes place at new host Stellenbosch Golf Club before the Swing concludes at Houghton Golf Club with the Joburg Open, with both events co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour.
