The post Daffue secures second win of season on dramatic final day in Delhi appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The winning moment for MJ Daffue #NTTDATAProAmByStandardBank pic.twitter.com/ALdc8GTeUw

— HotelPlanner Tour (@HPlanner_Tour) February 15, 2026

The South African, who started the final round on the Montagu course at Fancourt Golf Estate tied for the lead, signed for a three under par 69 to reach 16 under par for the week, to finish four shots clear of a four-way tie for second.

Daffue catapults to third on the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings and cut an emotional figure after his breakthrough victory on home soil.

“This is amazing,” he said. “I’ve played this tournament a few times and it’s one of my favourite tournaments. I’ve played the Pebble Beach pro-am and this South Africa’s equivalent.

“I love Fancourt and George is a piece of heaven to me. Deciding to come over here with my family for this long was a great decision. The emotions haven’t really sunk it yet.

“It was a roller coaster out there today. I had to be patient today and it paid off in the end where everything really fell in place.”

Daffue kickstarted his final round with birdies on two of his first three holes before dropping his first shot of the day on the fifth. And after two further birdies around the turn, the South African appeared to be cruising towards a comfortably triumph.

However, two dropped shots in four holes saw Daffue fall back into a tie at the top with American Hunter Logan on 14 under. But, after the American found the water on the par five closing hole and Daffue found the green in two, the South African was free to roll home a closing eagle to seal victory in front of his onlooking wife and son.

“I’ve always dreamt of a moment like that,” he added. “Having them run out on 18 after a win was something I thought might not happen.

“This is so special and to finish off with an eagle was perfect. It was a perfect storm this week where everything fell in place. These outcomes are a result of a lot of things and I’m so grateful.

“I’m going to have to figure out what I am going to do now. I may need to travel a little more with maybe playing in South Africa a little bit more but also on the HotelPlanner Tour to chase that DP World Tour card.”

South African Bryce Easton, Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent, Logan and Irishman Max Kennedy all share second place on 12 under par, one shot ahead of Deon Germishuys and Jaco Ahlers from South Africa and Englishman Sam Hutsby.

South African MJ Viljoen remains in first place on the Road to Mallorca, with Englishman Will Enefer still holding second following his victory at last week’s CIRCA Cape Town Open. Daffue rises 94 places to third with Germishuys and France’s Maxence Giboudot rounding out the top five.

The Road to Mallorca remains in South Africa for the last of four co-sanctioned events between the HotelPlanner Tour and the Sunshine Tour, with the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open taking place at Fancourt Golf Estate from February 19-22.

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The post MJ Daffue seals maiden HotelPlanner Tour title at Fancourt appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

As first reported on X Friday by Monday Q Info, MJ Daffue had not earned enough points through his major medical exemption that ended with his last start in the PGA Tour’s ISCO Championship that was played opposite of the Genesis Scottish Open. However, as confirmed to Golf Digest by the tour on Friday, Daffue was still identified on the priority list as for “PGA Tour Members Not Exempt for Current PGA Tour Event,” which covers those in the 126-150 category. Daffue should have been playing off a reordered points list, and his standing there would not have qualified him for the Pinnacle Bank event.

The unfortunate golfer who didn’t make it into the field in Omaha, because of the error was second-year pro Rayhan Thomas, 25, who entered this week at 107th in the KFT points standings, and after two rounds played in the Pinnacle is projected to drop to 112th.

There is only one regular-season event remaining in the KFT season—next week in Boise, Idaho—with the final four tournaments comprising the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. The top 156 players gain access to the first event, with field reductions after each tournament. Currently, Thomas would qualify for the first three events, but not for the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, which features the top 75 players in the standings.

MORE: Rayhan Thomas hits the paid ranks

“There was an unfortunate error in the Priority Ranking for this week’s event, resulting in a player gaining access to the tournament through an incorrect category,” the tour said in a statement on Friday. “We have communicated this situation with the player [Thomas] who was impacted and are working to provide an equitable solution.”

Monday Q Info reported that Thomas, as the first alternate, remained at the Club at Indian Creek in Omaha during most of the first round before heading home to Oklahoma.

Where the story gets juicier: Daffue has thus far taken huge advantage of the error. The 36-year-old South African has shot 67-65 in Omaha to be tied for second at nine under, one shot off the lead, heading into the weekend. In 18 events this season, Daffue doesn’t have a top-10 finish, with three placings in the top 25. He entered the week 111th in KFT points and is right now projected to move up to 66th.

The PGA Tour’s error is reminiscent of an LPGA clerical mistake earlier this season, when the first alternates for three events were erroneously left out of fields because Sophia Popov was mistakenly given higher status while coming off leaves for injury and pregnancy.

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The post PGA Tour says clerical error helped journeyman into KFT event, where he’s seizing the opportunity appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.