A great weekend in the world of professional golf
On the DP World Tour the Nedbank Golf Challenge took place at Gary Player Golf Course. World number eight Max Homa took a one shot lead into the final round. After eight holes of the final round Thorbjorn Olesen tied the lead on 16 under with Homa. Homa hit an extraordinary second shot over water from 254 yards at the par five ninth and reached 18 under after rolling in his eagle putt. Homa failed to achieve a birdie at the par five 10th and gave the chasing pack hope as he made a bogey at the par four 11th.
Homa put this bogey behind him immediately and played the last seven holes in two under to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge by four shots. Homa is turning into a world class player as he has now won at Torrey Pines, Quail Hollow and a first International win at Gary Player Golf Course. Homa returned to number seven in the world rankings with his win at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Homa’s swing is impressive and has no weaknesses in his game from tee to green.
Three Denmark players finished in the top six at the Nedbank which included Olesen and the Hojgaard twins. Homa wasn’t the only American to do well at the Nedbank as Justin Thomas shot a final round of 66 to finish fourth. Double defending Nedbank champion Tommy Fleetwood put up a decent defence to finish in the top 15. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin finished on one under in a tie for 33rd.
The Bermuda Championship took centre stage on the PGA Tour. Irishman Seamus Power was the defending champion but unfortunately couldn’t tee it up in the 2023 edition due to injury. Alex Noren lead going into the final round and was attempting to be the second European winner in a row at Bermuda. Camilo Villegas shot a fantastic final round of six under to win at Bermuda by two shots. Billegas’s win at Bermuda was his first win in nine years.
Charles Schwab Championship took place on the Champions Tour. Padraig Harrington shot three rounds of 69 and a 63 to finish in a tie for fourth on 14 under. Darren Clarke was also in the field and finished on one under in a tie for 27th. The Charles Schwab Championship was won by Steven Alker on 18 under.
The LPGA action took place at The Annika Driven By Gainbridge At Pelican. Lila Vu shot four rounds in the 60s to win on 19 under. Emily Pedersen shot a final round of 74 to finish in a tie for fifth. Leona Maguire shot a final round of 66 to finish in a tie for 38th. Stephanie Meadow unfortunately missed the halfway cut.
Rory McIlroy won his fifth Race to Dubai title last weekend. McIlroy didn’t play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge but can’t be caught even if Jon Rahm wins the DP World Tour Championship. Another great season for McIlroy with two wins, fifth Race to Dubai title, four points at Marco Simone and been a part of five Europe Ryder Cup wins. The only thing that escaped McIlroy in 2023 was a major but has a chance to finish the season in style by winning this week’s DP World Tour Championship.