The Australian Open announced it was extending its co-sanctioning agreement with the DP World Tour for three years. The 2026 Australian Open will be played at Kingston Heath on the famed Melbourne Sandbelt in December with Rory McIlroy the headliner for a second straight year.

More significantly, perhaps, the event revealed a historic partnership PGA Tour within the announcement. Never before had the PGA Tour formally partnered with the governing body, Golf Australia. Sources told Golf Digest that the PGA Tour will support the Australian Open in several ways, including financially. The release detailed that the tournament will receive a “significant” boost in prize money from the 2027 edition.

There will also be an encouragement for PGA Tour pros to tee up in Australia.

With three tours backing the event founded in 1904, the purse is set to grow from the AUD $2 million (US $1.33 million) that was offered at Royal Melbourne last year when McIlroy was among those who teed up. Exactly how much is yet to be determined.

The DP World Tour co-sanctions 17 national opens around the world. The Australian Open’s list of past champions includes McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Greg Norman, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

“To have a national open of the stature of the [Capital.com] Australian Open amongst that number and to have it commit to us for another three years is great news, and further illustrates the strength of the partnership we enjoy with Golf Australia and the PGA Challenger Tour of Australasia,” Ben Cowen, chief tournament and operations officer for the DP World Tour, said in a statement.

“Today’s news also reinforces the Strategic Alliance we enjoy with the PGA Tour and the opportunity to work with them alongside the Australian organisations to help grow the stature of this tournament globally is an exciting one.”

All of this is interesting in the context of LIV’s approach to the Australian Open. National Opens have been part of LIV’s future plans. CEO Scott O’Neil said, in April, that “we are looking to blend a version of LIV and the national Opens, the great national Opens around the world. We think they’re the most underappreciated, undermarketed, underdeveloped assets in golf, and the reason is it gets us on the ground to grow the game of golf.”

O’Neil wasn’t wrong on the national opens front. Months before that, Augusta National and the R&A jointly announced that the winners of six national Opens around the world—the Australian Open, Scottish Open, South African Open, Spanish Open, Japan Open and Hong Kong Open—would receive a place in the 2026 Masters field under new invitation criteria, as well as qualifying for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

In February, at LIV Golf Adelaide, O’Neil held a meeting with Golf Australia chief James Sutherland. Had the Australian Open partnered with LIV, the tournament purse would have surged, and a group of the league’s stars likely would have added it to their schedule. There were discussions about the possibility of moving the Australian Open from its typical early December slot to the week before or after the highly successful LIV Golf Adelaide, which has been held in February.

But with LIV Golf’s future uncertain given Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund no longer funding the league after 2026, the Australian Open continuing its partnership with the DP World Tour—and creating a new one with the PGA Tour—was a logical move.

The development is also relevant to the ongoing discussions between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour to continue their Strategic Alliance.

The Australian Open is part of an effort to clear the stage for the DP World Tour to shine in the last four months of the year. From early fall, the circuit moves through continental Europe—with treasured tournaments such as the Irish Open, BMW PGA at Wentworth and Spanish Open—and into the Middle East for its season finals. It quickly moves onto Australia in late November for the beginning of the new DP World Tour season which kicks off with the Australian Open and PGA.

Says Sutherland: “This agreement with the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia strengthens the global relevance of the championship and gives us another important platform to keep growing the event year-on-year.”

Sources indicate that shining a brighter light on the DP World Tour in that window is among the objectives discussed as DP World Tour and PGA Tour officials talk daily, and formally meet weekly. The aim is to extend the Strategic Alliance created in 2020 (and enhanced in 2022).

Those involved in the discussions include, from the DP World Tour side, CEO Guy Kinnings, as well as Cowen, chief revenue and content officer, Richard Bunn, and chief strategy and finance officer, Jonny Hine. On the PGA Tour’s end, that includes CEO Brian Rolapp, chief commercial officer, Dhruv Prasad, chief legal officer, Neera Shetty, and senior vice president of international, Christian Hardy.

The centrepiece of the alliance is that the top 10 points earners on the DP World Tour each season are given cards on the PGA Tour for the following season, while the agreement also includes the PGA Tour owning a 40 percent stake in European Tour Productions as well as boosting prize purse purses and several co-sanctioned events including the Scottish Open.

“[The PGA Tour is] thrilled with this agreement between our Strategic Alliance partners, the DP World Tour and the Capital.com Australian Open,” Hardy said. “The Capital.com Australian Open remains one of the most prestigious events in global golf, and our members have long valued the opportunity to compete in Australia. We look forward to continuing to build on this relationship in the years ahead.”

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: SOPA Images

The post What the PGA Tour’s surprise new arrangement with the Australian Open potentially means for global golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Some of the best players in the world will once again tee it up at Delhi Golf Club in the highly-anticipated $4,000,000 event – with Hovland and Fox joining a trio of European Ryder Cup stars in defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, back-to-back Masters winner Rory McIlroy and Major champion Justin Rose.

Viktor Hovland. Douglas P. DeFelice

Hovland returns for his second appearance at the DP World India Championship, after finishing tied sixth on his debut last October.

The 28-year-old was the first player from Norway to win on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, and the three-time Ryder Cup player was part of Europe’s historic back-to-back wins in Rome in 2023 and New York last September.

He said: “I really enjoyed the experience at the DP World India Championship last year. We had a lot of fun both on and off the golf course, and the welcome we received everywhere we went was incredible, so I can’t wait to get back to Delhi in October.”

Ryan Fox – Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Four-time DP World Tour winner Fox will be making his professional debut in India when he tees it up at Delhi Golf Club this year. The New Zealander, who won twice on the PGA TOUR in 2025, is defending his RBC Canadian Open title this week.

Fox – who won the 2022 Seve Ballesteros Award after being voted Player of the Year by his fellow professionals on the DP World Tour – said: “I’m excited to play in India for the first time, and especially after hearing such great things about the DP World India Championship. It sounds like a fantastic event, played on an interesting, historic course, and I’m looking forward to everything about the week.”

Global smart logistics provider DP World and the DP World Tour launched the DP World India Championship in 2025. Co-sanctioned with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the tournament features the largest prize fund ever offered for a DP World Tour event in India and will once again take its place as part of the crucial Back 9 phase of the Race to Dubai.

“India remains one of DP World’s most strategic markets, and we continue to deepen our commitment through sustained investment in world-class logistics and trade infrastructure that supports the country’s growth ambitions. Our integrated network today handles nearly a quarter of India’s EXIM container volumes, and the upcoming mega container terminal at Tuna-Tekra will further strengthen India’s global trade connectivity while unlocking new opportunities for our customers and partners.

“The DP World India Championship embodies that same commitment to excellence and global ambition. By bringing world-class players such as Ryan Fox and Viktor Hovland to Delhi this October, we are raising the tournament’s profile, accelerating the growth of golf in India, and cementing the Championship’s place as a standout event on the international sporting calendar,” said Hemant Kumar Ruia, Country Manager, (India) Subcontinent, DP World. 

The launch of the second edition of the DP World India Championship underscores India’s growing influence as a destination for elite golf and as a strategic market for DP World. The new tournament follows the success of the long-running Hero Indian Open and further boosts the Tour’s momentum in the region.

As the Tour’s title partner since 2022, and after becoming the Title and Official Umbrella Partner of the PGTI earlier this year, the tournament complements DP World’s broader sporting footprint in India, which includes partnerships with the Delhi Capitals, and grassroots programmes like the Second Life Container initiative and ‘Balls for Birdies’ campaign – both of which involve DP World donating golf balls, using its smart logistics network, to help grow the game and make it more accessible.

The DP World India Championship will be the eighth of nine events in the Back 9 phase of the 2026 Race to Dubai, building towards the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs and culminating in the DP World Tour Championship in November at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Supplied

The post Hovland and Fox join stellar DP World India Championship field appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Covering 2027, 2028 and 2029, the new agreement will enable the national championship to again be co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, continuing the tournament’s momentum following a significant period of growth.

It also marks the first time the PGA TOUR has formally partnered with Golf Australia, with the agreement set to ensure the Capital.com Australian Open will receive a significant boost in prize money, a distinct window in the global golf calendar and optimise the opportunity to attract the world’s best players. More details on these developments will be shared at the 2026 Capital.com Australian Open.

Back-to-back Masters champion Rory McIlroy will return to the 2026 Capital.com Australian Open which will again headline the start of the DP World Tour season alongside the BMW Australian PGA Championship, along with providing the highlight of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australia’s summer of golf schedule.

Together with the landmark partnership with Capital.com and the recent confirmation that the redeveloped North Adelaide Golf Course will host three men’s Capital.com Australian Opens from 2028-2034, the renewed co-sanctioning agreement and PGA TOUR partnership is another important step in Golf Australia’s broader strategy to elevate the championship.

“The Australian Open has a proud history going back to 1904 and is recognised globally as one of the great national championships of world golf,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.

“Our ambition is clear. We want the men’s Capital.com Australian Open to be recognised among the top 10 most prestigious golf tournaments globally, and everything we are doing for the event flows from that ambition.

“Getting the Australian Open right is about securing the total mix. That means world-class venues, strong host-state partnerships, commercial partners, sanctioning partners, broadcast reach, a great fan experience and the ability to attract strong international fields.

“This agreement with the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia strengthens the global relevance of the championship and gives us another important platform to keep growing the event year-on-year. 

“Together with our partnerships with Victoria, South Australia, Capital.com, our host venues and our other commercial partners, this puts us in the best possible position to realise our ambition of making the men’s Australian Open one of the world’s great golf events.”

Ben Cowen, Chief Tournament and Operations Officer for the DP World Tour, said: “We are delighted at today’s announcement which confirms that the Capital.com Australian Open will continue to feature on our schedule.

“Since our Tour’s inception over 50 years ago, National Opens have been, and will continue to be, critical for us; the fact we currently sanction 17 in total around the world merely emphasises the point that we are Golf’s Global Tour.

“To have a National Open of the stature of the Capital.com Australian Open amongst that number and to have it commit to us for another three years is great news, and further illustrates the strength of the partnership we enjoy with Golf Australia and the PGA Challenger Tour of Australasia.

“Today’s news also reinforces the Strategic Alliance we enjoy with the PGA TOUR and the opportunity to work with them alongside the Australian organisations to help grow the stature of this tournament globally, is an exciting one.”

With the DP World Tour co-sanctioning the event, PGA TOUR members will have the opportunity to more easily compete, further integrating the tournament into the international golf landscape.

“We are thrilled with this agreement between our Strategic Alliance partners, the DP World Tour and the Capital.com Australian Open,” said Christian Hardy, the PGA TOUR’s Senior Vice President, International. “The Capital.com Australian Open remains one of the most prestigious events in global golf, and our members have long valued the opportunity to compete in Australia. We look forward to continuing to build on this relationship in the years ahead.”

PGA of Australia and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia CEO Gavin Kirkman said the agreement was an important outcome for Australian tournament golf and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia members.

“The Capital.com Australian Open is the shop window for golf in Australia. If it’s strong, it elevates the entire Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and golf in this country.

“Golf Australia deserves great recognition for the work they are doing to secure the long-term future of the Australian Open, elevating it to one of the world’s premier international events. The combination of strong commercial support, world-class venues, host-state partnerships, and co-sanctioning alignment puts the Australian Open in a stronger position than ever to keep growing.”

“Played immediately after the BMW Australian PGA Championship in Sydney, we’re thrilled to be working alongside the DP World Tour as our co-sanction partner for our two biggest weeks on the Australian golf calendar, bringing together some of the world’s best golfers to compete for two of the oldest and revered trophies in world golf,” he said.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Getty Images

The post PGA Tour joins DP World Tour in committing to elevate the Australian Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Modern professional golf looks very different from the game it was 20 years ago. Today’s players travel constantly, train like elite athletes and rely heavily on support teams to stay healthy and competitive throughout a relentless season. At the heart of that support system on the HotelPlanner Tour are Therapy Lead Poora Singh and Strength and Conditioning Lead William Wayland. Between them, they help players manage everything from recovery and rehabilitation to training, sleep and workload management — all while navigating the unique pressures of life on tour.

● ● ●

What does a typical tournament week look like for you both?

Poora Singh: During a typical week on the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour, we’ll usually arrive on the Monday and recce the venue. We’ll find out where the treatment unit is, where access to emergency services is, where the gym and recovery areas are and all those kinds of things. Then we’ll start on Tuesday morning. On the HotelPlanner Tour, players book 30-minute treatment sessions through our booking system, and we’ll usually work from around 10am until 6pm.

Once the tournament starts, the days become much longer. Wednesday is a pro-am day, so we’ll start at 7am and work through until 6pm. That then continues through Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with Sunday usually finishing around lunchtime. On average, we’ll each see around 18 players a day, so it can be very intense.

On the DP World Tour, there are more physios and no booking system because there are usually three physios on at all times. The working day runs from an hour and a half before the first tee time until an hour and a half after the final group comes in. At events like The Open, where tee times can start at 6am, you’re arriving at 4am or 4:30am. The hours are demanding, but that comes with the territory.

William Wayland: I generally arrive on the Monday as well and assess what facilities we have available. Sometimes we’ll have a gym truck on site, but that’s not always the case on the HotelPlanner Tour, so we often have to find local gyms or training facilities nearby and organise access for players during the week.

Typically, I’m there from early Tuesday morning until around 6pm, then the same again on Wednesday.

Most of the work is one-to-one coaching with players. That can include physical testing, training sessions, programming adjustments or rehab support where players have been referred over by the physios.

There are also players who work with us regularly throughout the season, while others might only come in occasionally for assessments or specific help.

● ● ●

How physically demanding is modern professional golf compared to what people might expect?

WW: The sport has become increasingly physically demanding and you can see that in the players themselves. They’re taller, heavier, more muscular, more explosive and generally much stronger than golfers were 20 years ago. That tells you something fundamental has changed in the nature of the game.

In the past, there wasn’t a huge physical gap between golfers and athletes in other sports. Now, the physicality of elite golfers has changed dramatically, particularly over the last two decades, and that’s reflected in the style of golf they play.

● ● ●

What are the most common injuries or issues you deal with?

PS: If we’re talking purely about areas of the body, lower back issues are the most common, followed closely by hips, necks, shoulders, wrists and knees.

A lot of what we see are fatigue-based injuries. Players might have been on the road for six or seven weeks straight, not recovering properly, not sleeping well enough or not maintaining good nutrition and training habits.

You have to remember they could be hitting 200 to 300 balls a day, then playing tournament rounds, finishing late in the evening, trying to recover and eat properly, then waking up at 5am for another early tee time. It’s incredibly demanding physically. If those recovery habits aren’t in place, eventually the body struggles to keep up.

Then there are also the more unpredictable injuries. A player can hit a hidden root or a heavy divot and hurt their wrist, elbow or shoulder. We’ve had players tear calf muscles or Achilles tendons after slipping on hills. But generally, I’d say the biggest risk comes from repetition and volume rather than the sport itself.

● ● ●

Is the growing emphasis on speed in golf contributing to those injuries?

PS: Absolutely. Everybody wants to hit the ball further now, but to create speed you also need the ability to control and decelerate that speed safely. That only comes from proper conditioning, training and understanding how the body works.

WW: To tolerate those forces, you need a certain level of physical robustness. If players don’t have that — or if they’re constantly chasing more speed — eventually tissue tolerance breaks down somewhere and that’s usually when injuries happen.

● ● ●

So a large part of your work is injury prevention rather than simply treatment?

PS: Definitely. A huge part of what we do is education. We try to teach players good habits and help them understand that while manual therapy and treatment have their place, you can’t beat good athletic habits, sensible training and proper nutrition.

Those things are what keep players healthy and available to compete week after week.

● ● ●

What recovery methods are players relying on most during tournaments?

WW: The biggest thing for us is what we call performance lifestyle planning. At the top of that is sleep. Everything is downstream from sleep. If players aren’t sleeping properly, injury risk goes up, illness risk goes up, fatigue increases and performance suffers. We spend a lot of time talking about sleep hygiene — keeping rooms cool and dark, avoiding screens and stimulants before bed and creating a proper environment for recovery.

Nutrition is another huge factor. One thing we often see during the season is players unintentionally losing weight because they underestimate how many calories they’re burning. If they lose muscle mass and strength across the season, injury risk increases and performance can drop.

Then there’s training itself. We want players following well-rounded strength and conditioning programmes that support what they’re trying to achieve physically.

One thing we always say is to avoid making dramatic changes during the season. Introducing too much novelty mid-season can create problems.

There’s also the mental side of tour life. It can be lonely and mentally draining, so having strong relationships with friends, coaches and family is incredibly important.

Finally, we encourage players to monitor how much golf they’re actually playing. Golfers often manage their own workloads and sometimes they’re not very good at recognising when they’re doing too much.

● ● ●

Poora, you’ve been around the game for nearly two decades. How have you seen golfers change during that time?

PS: Massively. When I first came into golf, player support was incredibly basic. You’d have a treatment table in the locker room and maybe a few resistance bands.

I came from a high-performance athletics background where sports science and conditioning were already standard, so when I joined golf I was shocked by how little of that existed. A lot of it was cultural. Golf had this old-school mentality where people believed weights would make golfers slower and that players only needed to practise golf itself.

Over time, through the work of the European Tour Performance Institute and the support systems on the HotelPlanner Tour and DP World Tour, we’ve helped re-educate players and coaches about the athletic side of performance.

Now, players understand that if they want to compete consistently across six or seven events in a row, they need to treat themselves like elite athletes. I’m genuinely very proud of how far things have come.

● ● ●

What separates the players who stay healthy all year from those who struggle physically?

PS: The players who stay healthy are usually the ones with the best habits and routines. Some younger players still come from environments where they’ve been told to just play golf and everything else will take care of itself. But once they experience life on tour, they realise very quickly that isn’t enough.

The standard on the HotelPlanner Tour and DP World Tour is incredibly high. If you can win on the HotelPlanner Tour, you’re good enough to compete at the very highest level. The players who succeed long-term are the ones who look at what elite players are doing and adopt those same professional habits around training, nutrition and recovery.

● ● ●

You also seem to create a relaxed and supportive environment for players. How important is that?

PS: It’s a very conscious part of what we do because tour life can be lonely. We want players to feel comfortable coming into our space, whether that’s for treatment, recovery or simply to switch off mentally for a while. Sometimes a player just wants to sit in recovery boots, listen to music and relax. Sometimes they need somewhere quiet to sleep for an hour. It’s about creating an environment where players feel safe and supported.

WW: It becomes a kind of third space for players. They spend all day around competitors, either on the course or in the clubhouse, so having somewhere they can properly relax and let their guard down makes a huge difference.

Some players don’t even come in to train — they just want to sit down and talk. That in itself can be really valuable during a long season.

● ● ●

Is it difficult stopping players from overtraining?

WW: It depends on the individual because golfers tend to be very process-driven people. A lot of them want to optimise everything — sleep, diet, routines, recovery — and because golf is such a technical and psychological sport, players can become very analytical about performance. We encourage them to take a balanced, holistic approach rather than becoming obsessed with any one method. But generally, if players overdo anything, it’s usually golf itself.

One of the biggest injury mechanisms in golf is simply too much golf. We rarely see injuries caused by sensible strength and conditioning work. It’s usually the repetitive volume of golf practice and competition that creates problems.

● ● ●

How important is it for the two of you to work closely together?

WW: We work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, so we’re constantly referring players between each other. A player might come to Poora with an issue and then be referred to me because there are underlying strength or movement deficiencies that need addressing.

Likewise, if I feel something is more medical or rehab-focused and outside my expertise, I’ll refer the player back to Poora. It’s a very collaborative relationship.

PS: The medical team is involved as well. If we feel a player needs scans or medical assessment, we’ll bring the doctor in and make decisions together. The players are always looked after collectively.

WW: It also helps that me and Poora genuinely like each other. That makes the whole environment work better because there’s trust within the team.

PS: I trust Will completely and I know the players are in world-class hands with him.

That’s a huge part of building a successful multi-disciplinary team — making sure everyone is highly skilled, experienced and working together towards the same goal.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Harry Grimshaw

The post Behind the ropes with European Tour Performance Institute appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 KLM Open

Eugenio Chacarra secures his second DP World Tour title #KLMOpen pic.twitter.com/iwx0gcS5CQ

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 7, 2026

Oliver Lindell had put the pressure on the long-time leader as a round of 69, capped by a birdie of his own, took him alongside Chacarra at ten under par.

The Spaniard responded in kind with an excellent approach setting up a two-putt from around 20 feet to seal the crown at The International in Amsterdam.

Dropped shots for overnight leaders Sebastian Söderberg at the first hole and Chacarra at the third allowed Marcus Armitage and Maximilian Steinlechner to take a share of the lead with two birdies apiece.

Söderberg birdied the fourth but Chacarra seized control approaching the turn, birdieing the eighth and ninth to open up a three-shot lead at 11 under as his closest challengers dropped back.

A bogey at the 12th brought the chasing pack back into contention, with Lindell birdieing the 14th to move within one. Chacarra responded immediately with a birdie of his own before Lindell and Steinlechner both picked up shots at the 15th to emerge as his main challengers.

While Chacarra dropped a shot at the 16th, Steinlechner bogeyed the par-three 17th and Lindell’s par left him just one behind heading to the last.

The former LIV Golfer, Chacarra, went desperately close to a virtual clinching birdie at the 17th, which would have been only the fifth of the day on that hole, and Lindell asked the question with a closing birdie to move alongside him at the summit as the Spaniard prepared to hit his approach shot.

He duly found the back of the green and ran his first putt down close to the pin, taking deep breaths as his playing partners finished up before the tap-in to clinch his second DP World Tour win, after last year’s Hero Indian Open.

Chacarra spoke after Saturday’s round of how he relishes tough conditions and Sunday in Amsterdam certainly delivered, with high winds throughout. The low round of the day was just a three-under-par 68 from Marcel Siem, while only eight players shot in the 60s.

Lindell, who birdied three of the last four holes and has made the cut in all 16 of his DP World Tour starts this season, was left to settle for second on his own while Angel Ayora eagled the last to join Steinlechner, Söderberg and Joe Dean in third on eight under.

Julien Guerrier and Danny Willett were a further shot back with the top ten completed by Yanhan Zhou at six under and Lindell’s fellow Finn Sami Välimäki at five under.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Getty Images

The post Chacarra wins KLM Open, his second DP World Tour title appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Connor Syme successfully defended his maiden DP World Tour title after claiming it 12 months earlier when he had seen off playing partner Joakim Lagergren by two shots. The 29-year-old Scot had been in control throughout the final round the previous year as he closed out a breakthrough victory in his 182nd appearance.

The International hosted the event for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall. The Amsterdam venue once again proved to be the perfect setting for the tournament and, over the previous two editions, had seen victories for Syme and Guido Migliozzi. It had also hosted the event in 2019 when Sergio Garcia lifted the trophy, and the 2017 Masters champion remained one of several Major winners to have tasted KLM Open success.

First played in 1912 and an ever-present on the DP World Tour schedule since 1972, aside from Covid-related disruptions, the event had been won by the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, José María Olazábal, Payne Stewart, Darren Clarke and Martin Kaymer. As one of the great national opens, it continued to be a jewel in the crown of the DP World Tour schedule, with The International playing an important role in its rich history.

Eugenio Chacarra birdied the 18th hole to win the 2026 KLM Open by one stroke.

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 KLM Open

1st – Eugenio Chacarra – €402,463.27

2nd – Oliver Lindell – €260,417.41

T3rd – Angel Ayora – €112,689.72

T3rd – Joe Dean – €112,689.72

T3rd – Sebastian Söderberg – €112,689.72

T3rd – Maximilian Steinlechner – €112,689.72

T7th – Julien Guerrier – €65,104.35

T7th – Danny Willett – €65,104.35

9th – Yanhan Zhou – €53,030.45

10th – Sami Välimäki – €47,348.62

T11th – Nacho Elvira – €40,798.73

T11th – Jayden Schaper – €40,798.73

T11th – Richard Sterne – €40,798.73

T14th – Marcus Armitage – €32,095.60

T14th – Pablo Ereño – €32,095.60

T14th – Marcus Helligkilde – €32,095.60

T14th – Calum Hill – €32,095.60

T14th – Daniel Hillier – €32,095.60

T14th – James Morrison – €32,095.60

T14th – David Ravetto – €32,095.60

T21st – Ross Fisher – €25,331.51

T21st – Jordan Gumberg – €25,331.51

T21st – Angel Hidalgo – €25,331.51

T21st – Scott Jamieson – €25,331.51

T21st – Niklas Nørgaard – €25,331.51

T21st – Brandon Robinson Thompson – €25,331.51

T21st – Bernd Wiesberger – €25,331.51

T28th – Michael Hollick – €21,425.25

T28th – Kazuma Kobori – €21,425.25

T28th – Guido Migliozzi – €21,425.25

T28th – Callum Tarren – €21,425.25

T32nd – Andreas Halvorsen – €17,913.56

T32nd – Yuto Katsuragawa – €17,913.56

T32nd – Matteo Manassero – €17,913.56

T32nd – Francesco Molinari – €17,913.56

T32nd – Ryan Peake – €17,913.56

T32nd – Marcel Siem – €17,913.56

T38th – Cameron Adam – €14,441.33

T38th – Kiradech Aphibarnrat – €14,441.33

T38th – Davis Bryant – €14,441.33

T38th – Jens Dantorp – €14,441.33

T38th – Ricardo Gouveia – €14,441.33

T38th – Hunter Logan – €14,441.33

T38th – Lars van der Vight – €14,441.33

T45th – David Law – €12,073.90

T45th – JC Ritchie – €12,073.90

T45th – Robin Williams – €12,073.90

T48th – Dylan Frittelli – €9,706.47

T48th – Sadom Kaewkanjana – €9,706.47

T48th – Alexander Levy – €9,706.47

T48th – Stefano Mazzoli – €9,706.47

T48th – Brandon Stone – €9,706.47

T48th – Paul Waring – €9,706.47

T48th – Ashun Wu – €9,706.47

T55th – Adri Arnaus – €7,812.52

T55th – Jacob Skov Olesen – €7,812.52

T55th – Antoine Rozner – €7,812.52

T58th – Rikuya Hoshino – €7,220.66

T58th – Jason Scrivener – €7,220.66

T60th – Sebastian Garcia – €6,392.06

T60th – Mikael Lindberg – €6,392.06

T60th – Joost Luiten – €6,392.06

T60th – Renato Paratore – €6,392.06

T60th – Eddie Pepperell – €6,392.06

65th – Dan Bradbury – €5,681.83

T66th – Matthew Baldwin – €5,208.35

T66th – Rafa Cabrera Bello – €5,208.35

T66th – Nicolai von Dellingshausen – €5,208.35

70th – Frederic Lacroix – €4,734.86

T71st – Marcus Kinhult – €4,024.63

T71st – Connor Syme – €4,024.63

73rd – Marcel Schneider – €3,548.15

W/D – Ewen Ferguson – €3,542.14

W/D – Nathan Kimsey – €3,542.14

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: DP World Tour

The post Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 KLM Open appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The achievement marks another important milestone in the tournament’s sustainability journey, which saw the Hero Dubai Desert Classic become the first GEO Certified® tournament in the Middle East and now the first event within the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series to maintain certification across four successive editions.

The announcement coincides with World Environment Day, which this year focuses on accelerating collective action to address environmental challenges through practical, measurable solutions.

GEO Certified® is the internationally recognised distinction for sustainable golf tournaments, administered by GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation. The independent verification process assesses event performance across tournament staging, communications and legacy delivery, while also identifying opportunities for continual improvement.

The 2026 certification follows another year of significant action across the tournament’s sustainability programme, building on initiatives introduced in previous editions while continuing to reduce environmental impacts and strengthen positive social outcomes.

Key initiatives recognised through the verification process included:

• The Green Incubator Challenge as a global initiative to find innovative sustainable solutions for events, with the winner to implement their idea at the 2027 Hero Dubai Desert Classic. 
• Continued use of renewable and alternative energy solutions across tournament operations with 100% energy from solar and biodiesel. 
• Reduced reliance on traditional diesel-powered generation through battery and energy management technologies.
• Expanded sustainable procurement practices and responsible material sourcing.
• 100% of waste diversion through comprehensive recycling and energy recovery programmes.
• Promotion of public transport notably the Dubai Metro and lower-carbon travel options for spectators, staff and suppliers.
• Community engagement initiatives focused on health, wellbeing, education and participation in golf.

The tournament also continues to work closely with Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Golf, suppliers, sponsors and delivery partners to embed sustainability considerations throughout event planning and operations.

Simon Corkill, Executive Tournament Director of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, said: “Achieving GEO Certified® Tournament status for a fourth consecutive year is a significant achievement and reflects the commitment of everyone involved in delivering the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

“Sustainability continues to be a central part of our planning and decision-making. While we are proud of the progress made over the past four years, our focus remains on continual improvement and identifying new opportunities to reduce environmental impacts, create positive social outcomes and leave a meaningful legacy through the tournament.

“We are grateful to our partners, suppliers, stakeholders and spectators for their support in helping us achieve this important recognition.”

The verification highlights several areas where the tournament demonstrates leadership within professional golf, including sustainability communications, stakeholder engagement, responsible resource management and collaborative legacy programmes.

Jonathan Smith, Founder and Executive Director of GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, added: “The Hero Dubai Desert Classic continues to be a leading example of what can be achieved when sustainability is integrated into every aspect of event planning and delivery. The commitment shown by Falcon and Associates, Emirates Golf Club and their partners has helped establish the tournament as one of the most progressive events in professional golf from a sustainability perspective.

“We congratulate the entire team on achieving GEO Certified® Tournament status once again and look forward to supporting their continued progress in the years ahead.”

The Hero Dubai Desert Classic’s continued GEO certification reflects Dubai’s wider commitment to environmental responsibility, innovation and sustainable development, while demonstrating how major sporting events can contribute positively to communities, climate action and resource stewardship.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Supplied

The post Hero Dubai Desert Classic achieves GEO Certified Tournament status for the fourth consecutive year appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open

Kota Kaneko claims his maiden victory in just his 12th start on the DP World Tour #AustrianAlpineOpen pic.twitter.com/kzXAWIVJnu

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 31, 2026

Get your June 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East here!

The 23-year-old, who topped last season’s Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit to earn his DP World Tour for this season, carded a three-under-par final round of 67 to finish on 18 under par at Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith, two ahead of Ricardo Gouveia and Davis Bryant in a share of second.

Kaneko arrived in Austria off the back of a runner-up finish at last week’s Soudal Open, and he was delighted to go one better this time around and claim the ninth win by a player from Japan on the DP World Tour.

Gouveia made his move at the second to sit alongside Kaneko at 15 under, but he was soon on his own when his Japanese playing partner dropped a shot at the next.

Kaneko hit back with a birdie at the fifth to return to the summit, before home favourite Max Steinlechner joined them in a three-way tie.

Steinlechner enjoyed two birdie bursts to catapult himself into contention, with a hat-trick of gains from the second before another treble of birdies from the ninth.

He was not the only Austrian to surge up the leaderboard as nine-time DP World Tour winner Bernd Wiesberger followed a birdie at the third with three more gains from the sixth to reach 15 under.

Joost Luiten finished his front nine with his third birdie of the day to increase the leadership group to five, only for Gouveia to drain a 15-foot birdie putt to take the outright lead at the same hole.

Gouveia improved to 17 under with a birdie at the tenth, but Kaneko was one behind after following suit. However, the Portuguese leader got in trouble at the next and could not save par, slipping back alongside Kaneko at 16 under.

Kaneko put his foot on the pedal with a birdie at the 12th before a stunning tee-shot at the par-three 13th. Wiesberger holed a putt from downtown to join Gouveia at 16 under, but the pair were soon two behind.

The Japanese held his nerve from three feet to card his third birdie in four holes and become the first player to reach 18 under.

Bryant closed the gap to one, following an eagle and four birdies by the 16th, while Kaneko got out of position at the 15th and had a long putt to save par, which he lipped out after the lengthy weather delay.

That meant Kaneko and Bryant were tied at the top at 17 under, but only for one more hole. Despite finding the rough at the par-three 16th, Kaneko holed his chip shot to regain his one-shot advantage at 18 under. Bryant bogeyed the last to gift the Japanese a two-shot lead, something he did not throw away.

Kaneko parred his way home, despite a scary finish when he hit the stands behind the green and his ball stopped in the thick rough by the water hazard, to claim his maiden DP World Tour title.

Bryant and Gouveia finished at 16 under, with Wiesberger, Italian Gregorio De Leo and Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello a shot further back. Steinlechner and Luiten were at 14 under alongside Daniel Hillier and Manuel Elvira.

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Getty Images

The post Kaneko secures maiden DP World Tour win in Austria appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Get your June 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East here!

Ryder Cup hero Sepp Straka teed it up on home soil for the first time since 2018, leading a strong contingent of Austrian players hoping to impress the local fans. Since his last appearance in Austria at the Shot Clock Masters, Straka had become the first Austrian to win on the PGA TOUR, taking his tally on that circuit to four victories and earning two Ryder Cup triumphs. However, he was still searching for a maiden DP World Tour title.

Straka, only the second Austrian to play in the Ryder Cup after Bernd Wiesberger, was joined in the field by the nine-time DP World Tour winner, who arrived fresh from victory the previous month. Rising star Maximilian Steinlechner was also among the home favourites, alongside Matthias Schwab and Lukas Nemecz.

G4D star Kipp Popert was part of the field as he looked to transfer his success in disability golf to the DP World Tour. He competed alongside six other 2026 DP World Tour winners, including two-time season winner Casey Jarvis, who arrived ranked fourth on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World.

The tournament marked the third first-time host venue in five events, with Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith becoming the 465th course to stage a DP World Tour event. The mountain layout, one of four golf courses in Kitzbühel, is covered in snow for much of the year but provided a picturesque setting and a distinctive challenge throughout the week.

As the third event of the European Swing, the tournament played an important role in the battle for Swing honours. Players were chasing valuable points in the Rankings, with the eventual Swing winner earning entry into every event of Phase Two of the season — the Back 9 — along with a US$200,000 bonus. The highest-ranked player on the Swing not already exempt also secured a place in the field for the Genesis Scottish Open, the second Rolex Series event of the season.

Japan’s Kota Kaneko secured his maiden DP World Tour title with a two-shot victory in Kitzbühel.

Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol

1st – Kota Kaneko – €401,554.45

2nd – Davis Bryant – €204,320.35

T2nd – Ricardo Gouveia – €204,320.35

T4th – Rafa Cabrera Bello – €100,309.88

T4th – Gregorio De Leo – €100,309.88

T4th – Bernd Wiesberger – €100,309.88

T7th – Manuel Elvira – €57,516.77

T7th – Daniel Hillier – €57,516.77

T7th – Joost Luiten – €57,516.77

T7th – Maximilian Steinlechner – €57,516.77

11th – Joel Girrbach – €43,462.36

12th – Eugenio Chacarra – €36,565.08

T12th – Joe Dean – €36,565.08

T12th – Grant Forrest – €36,565.08

T12th – Sepp Straka – €36,565.08

T12th – Yanhan Zhou – €36,565.08

17th – Filippo Celli – €27,767.62

T17th – Ugo Coussaud – €27,767.62

T17th – Ewen Ferguson – €27,767.62

T17th – Calum Hill – €27,767.62

T17th – Andrew Johnston – €27,767.62

T17th – Nathan Kimsey – €27,767.62

T17th – Alexander Levy – €27,767.62

T17th – JC Ritchie – €27,767.62

T17th – Marcel Schneider – €27,767.62

26th – Marcus Armitage – €21,022.56

T26th – Ivan Cantero – €21,022.56

T26th – Alfredo Garcia-Heredia – €21,022.56

T26th – Rikuya Hoshino – €21,022.56

T26th – Yuto Katsuragawa – €21,022.56

T26th – Félix Mory – €21,022.56

T26th – Jacob Skov Olesen – €21,022.56

T26th – Antoine Rozner – €21,022.56

T26th – Tom Vaillant – €21,022.56

35th – Martin Couvra – €16,345.63

T35th – MJ Daffue – €16,345.63

T35th – Oihan Guillamoundeguy – €16,345.63

T35th – James Morrison – €16,345.63

T35th – David Ravetto – €16,345.63

40th – Hennie du Plessis – €13,463.88

T40th – Matthew Jordan – €13,463.88

T40th – Francesco Laporta – €13,463.88

T40th – Kevin Na – €13,463.88

T40th – Yurav Premlall – €13,463.88

T40th – Brandon Robinson Thompson – €13,463.88

T40th – Darius van Driel – €13,463.88

47th – Cameron Adam – €10,156.97

T47th – Tobias Jonsson – €10,156.97

T47th – Oliver Lindell – €10,156.97

T47th – Renato Paratore – €10,156.97

T47th – Richard Sterne – €10,156.97

T47th – Brandon Stone – €10,156.97

T47th – Hugo Townsend – €10,156.97

54th – Romain Langasque – €8,149.19

T54th – Marc Warren – €8,149.19

56th – Albin Bergstrom – €7,794.88

57th – Wenyi Ding – €7,440.57

T57th – Ross Fisher – €7,440.57

59th – Lucas Bjerregaard – €6,731.94

T59th – Andreas Halvorsen – €6,731.94

T59th – Ryggs Johnston – €6,731.94

T59th – Anthony Quayle – €6,731.94

63rd – Sean Crocker – €5,905.21

T63rd – Simon Forsström – €5,905.21

T63rd – Edoardo Molinari – €5,905.21

66th – Sebastian Garcia – €5,432.80

Follow Golf Digest Middle East on social media

Instagram

X

Facebook

YouTube

Main Image: Supplied

The post Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

Cover star Chris Gotterup shares an honest look at the swing thoughts, misses and practice habits he’s working through, reminding us that even tour winners battle the same frustrations as everyday golfers.

We also explore the evolving world of professional golf, from Luis Masaveau’s move to LIV Golf to The Undercover Pro’s candid take on life beyond the PGA Tour rumour mill. Behind the scenes, we examine the changing face of tour life through the lens of the European Tour Performance Institute and the realities of making a living as a golf professional.

Closer to home, Golf During a Conflict looks at the resilience of the Middle East golf scene, while our travel features visit Al Mouj Golf and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club ahead of the 2026 U.S. Open.

Instruction remains central, with lessons from J. J. Spaun, Aaron Rai and Phil Mickelson, plus our 2026 Hot List guide to the year’s best golf balls. We also continue celebrating regional golf through The Gulf Club and standout performances from across the Middle East.

All this and plenty more in the June 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East.

The issue is again free to our loyal audience. You can scroll through the ISSUU link provided here or download it to your favourite device for later. Alternatively, pick up a copy at your local golf club. Whatever option you take, we hope you enjoy the read.

The post Get your June 2026 edition of Golf Digest Middle East here! appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.