Fleetwood Triumphs in India, Kim Breaks Through in South Korea, and Q-School Contenders Advance
The third week of October showcased professional golf’s remarkable depth and breadth. From Tommy Fleetwood’s emotional triumph in India to Sei Young Kim’s drought-ending victory in South Korea, from aspiring professionals grinding through Q-School to the next generation of stars punching their tickets to the big stage, the game delivered compelling narratives across multiple continents and competitive levels.
In this week’s “The Starter,” PGA professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, gives his thoughts on the week that was in golf for R.org. From Fleetwood’s fairy-tale season continuing in New Delhi to Kim’s long-awaited return to the winner’s circle in South Korea, plus crucial developments at both LPGA and PGA TOUR Q-Schools, it was another week that reminded us why this sport captivates across the globe.
DP World Tour: Fleetwood’s Fairy-Tale Year Continues in India
Tommy Fleetwood just won’t stop writing storybook chapters in 2025.
The Englishman captured the DP World India Championship with a closing 65 at Delhi Golf Club, finishing at 22-under par to defeat Japan’s Keita Nakajima by two strokes. The victory marks Fleetwood’s eighth career DP World Tour title and adds yet another highlight to what has already been the finest season of his decorated career.
“I feel like for all the good that’s happened this year, a couple of things have disappointed me,” Fleetwood admitted after his triumph. “Another win, it feels great.”
The 34-year-old’s 2025 campaign reads like fiction. He ended his long wait for a first PGA TOUR title at the Tour Championship in August, capturing the FedExCup in the process. He then played a pivotal role in Europe’s historic away Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black in September. He moved into the top five in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career. And now, he’s added another DP World Tour victory to his résumé.
Perhaps more meaningful than the trophy itself was the celebration that followed. Fleetwood’s 8-year-old son, Frankie, ran onto the 18th green after his father tapped in for par. The pair had specifically discussed the moment the week before.
“We were at home last week and we were driving the buggy. I think we were playing golf together, and he just said randomly, ‘Do you know what you’ve never done?'” Fleetwood recalled. “He said, ‘You’ve never won a tournament and I’ve been able to run on to the 18th green’. I was like, ‘I’m writing that down.'”
Starting the day two shots behind third-round leader Nakajima, Fleetwood reeled off four consecutive birdies from the seventh hole to grab a share of the lead at 20-under par. When New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier stumbled with a double bogey on the 14th, Fleetwood seized control. A 12-foot birdie at the 14th opened up a two-shot advantage, and another birdie at the 17th pushed him to 22-under.
Nakajima refused to go quietly. His closing 69 was bogey-free and included clutch par saves that kept him in contention throughout. The runner-up finish marked his second second-place showing in India on the DP World Tour since 2024.
Most importantly for Fleetwood, the victory moved him from No. 94 to No. 25 in the Race to Dubai, making him eligible for the Abu Dhabi Championship and season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
LPGA Tour: Sei Young Kim Ends Five-Year Drought in South Korea
Sei Young Kim proved that class is permanent at the BMW Ladies Championship.
The 32-year-old South Korean carded a final-round 67 at Pine Beach Golf Links to claim a four-stroke victory, finishing at 24-under 264. More significantly, the triumph ended a five-year drought since her last tournament victory at the 2020 Women’s PGA Championship.
Kim’s performance throughout the week was a masterclass in consistency and ball-striking. She hit 79% of fairways for the tournament, averaged 256 yards off the tee, and found an impressive 61 of 72 greens in regulation (85%). Her putting was equally solid, requiring just 113 total putts for the week.
The final round saw Kim drop her only shot of the day at the par-3 third before responding with six birdies through the remainder of the round. Her closest challenger, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, also posted a 67 but could never close the gap, finishing at 20-under 268.
The victory marked Kim’s 13th career LPGA Tour title since joining the tour in 2015, reaffirming her status as one of the game’s elite players. For a decade-long veteran who has experienced the highest highs, the return to the winner’s circle carried profound meaning.
LPGA Q-Series: The Next Generation Emerges
The LPGA Q-Series Qualifying Stage concluded at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida, with Japan’s Kokona Sakurai and Malaysia’s Mirabel Ting sharing co-medalist honors and leading 50 players into the Final Qualifying Stage.
Sakurai delivered the performance of the week, posting a bogey-free 8-under 64 in the final round to surge from T15 into a share of the lead. The five-time JLPGA Tour winner began her final round seven shots behind 54-hole leader Anna Nordfors but played freely, knowing she was comfortably within the top 45.
Mirabel Ting’s journey to co-medalist honors carried special emotional weight. The former Florida State University golfer had her older sister on the bag, and together they honored their late father’s memory with every shot.
“I think the first word would be he’s actually really proud. But at the same time, he would be saying to me, ‘Keep working hard, and the journey is still really far ahead, so keep your head high and continue doing what you’re doing, and you’ll be fine,'” Ting said.
Among the 50 players who finished in the top 45 and ties were several compelling stories. Kim Kaufman, an Epson Tour and LPGA Tour veteran who recently won her battle against breast cancer, finished T29 and now has the chance to regain her LPGA Tour card.
Three notable amateurs also advanced: 17-year-old Gianna Clemente, UNC Tar Heel Megan Streicher, and 2023 NCAA Women’s Golf National Championship team member Carolina Lopez-Chacarra. All three now face the decision of whether to turn professional or maintain amateur status before the November 14th deadline.
The Final Qualifying Stage is set for December 4th in Mobile, Alabama, where dreams of LPGA Tour cards will be realized or deferred for another year.
PGA TOUR Q-School: The Grind Continues
The PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry saw its First Stage conclude with eight sites determining who would advance to Second Stage. The quest for five coveted PGA TOUR cards continues to intensify.
At Galloping Hills Golf Club in Kenilworth, New Jersey, 18 players at 8-under 276 or better advanced to Second Stage, with David Pastore and Braden Shattuck sharing medalist honors. In Newton, Kansas, Charlie Crockett earned medalist honors as 19 players at 7-under 281 or better moved forward.
Second Stage is scheduled for December 2-5 at six sites across the country. The survivors will then converge on TPC Sawgrass’ Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for Final Stage on December 11-14.
The top five finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn direct PGA TOUR membership for 2026, while the rest of the field will secure varying levels of Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas status. Every shot matters. Every round counts. Careers hang in the balance.
The Bigger Picture
Tommy Fleetwood added another trophy to his fairy-tale season while creating a memory with his son that will last forever. Sei Young Kim proved that champions never forget how to win, even after five years away from the winner’s circle. Kokona Sakurai and Mirabel Ting led a group of 50 hopefuls one step closer to LPGA Tour cards. And hundreds of players continued grinding through Q-School, chasing their PGA TOUR dreams.
This is golf at every level: established stars cementing their legacies, veterans rediscovering their form, and aspiring professionals fighting for their chance.