Matsuyama’s Playoff Magic, Neergaard-Petersen’s Maiden Victory, Reitan’s Wire-to-Wire Win, and Team Europe’s Dominance
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. Hideki Matsuyama captures his second Hero World Challenge title in dramatic playoff fashion. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen secures his maiden DP World Tour victory at the Crown Australian Open, punching his ticket to Augusta. Kristoffer Reitan survives a nerve-shredding final round to claim wire-to-wire victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. And Team Europe rolls to victory at the Skechers World Champions Cup behind Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.
PGA TOUR: Matsuyama’s Playoff Heroics at Hero World Challenge
Hideki Matsuyama proved once again that Tiger Woods’ tournament brings out his best golf. The Japanese star captured his second Hero World Challenge title on Sunday, defeating Alex Noren in a playoff at Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas—his third victory in a Tiger-hosted event.
Matsuyama overcame a three-stroke final-round deficit with a brilliant 64, matching Noren’s closing round to force the first playoff at the Hero World Challenge since 2013. Both players finished at 22-under par, setting up a dramatic finish.
The playoff lasted just one hole. Matsuyama hit a 9-iron from 166 yards to set up a birdie opportunity, then converted to claim victory. It was a fitting end to a round that featured one of the shots of the year: a holed-out eagle from 116 yards on the par-4 10th hole.
“A lot of luck with No. 10 eagle,” Matsuyama said through his interpreter. “And also the partner with Alex, he played well like last four, five hole, so it was good mood playing together.”
That eagle was the turning point. After watching Noren hit a brilliant second shot, Matsuyama drew inspiration and executed the shot of the tournament.
The victory was particularly meaningful given his struggles throughout 2025. After winning The Sentry early in the season, he failed to capture another victory despite qualifying for his 12th career TOUR Championship.
“It was a very tough season for me,” Matsuyama admitted. “Swing coach in Japan, every night talking and I just did things and able to play great.”
The win makes Matsuyama the sixth multiple winner of the Hero World Challenge, joining Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Graeme McDowell, Davis Love III, and Tiger Woods.
When asked what Tiger means to him, Matsuyama’s answer was simple: “Tiger is my idol. That’s why I play well on Tiger’s event.”
Alex Noren, who received a sponsor exemption from Woods, posted a back-nine 31 for his closing 64 and led the field with 27 birdies for the week.
“I’m super proud,” Noren said. “It was just amazing to get in this field. It’s an honor to play in a tournament having his name on there and everything he does for charity.”
When asked which shot was his best of the tournament, Matsuyama didn’t hesitate: “Second shot on playoff.”
That’s the mark of a champion. Not the holed eagle that everyone will remember, but the pressure shot in the playoff that sealed the victory.
54-hole leader Sepp Straka finished third at 21-under. Two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler tied for fourth at 20-under with J.J. Spaun, who chipped in three times for his closing 65.
The celebration plans? “We have a flight after this. If we’re able to make it, maybe we’re going to grab some beer tonight.”
Simple, understated, and perfectly Hideki Matsuyama.
DP World Tour: Neergaard-Petersen’s Breakthrough at Crown Australian Open
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen fought off Major Champion Cam Smith to claim his maiden DP World Tour title at the Crown Australian Open on Sunday. The 26-year-old Dane faced an uphill battle after missing the green on the 72nd hole, but rose to the challenge with a nerveless ten-foot par putt that sealed a one-shot victory.
Neergaard-Petersen began the final round with a two-shot lead but found himself tied with home favourite Smith as they reached the 18th. After his tee shot found trouble, he faced the defining moment of his career: get up and down for par or watch his first DP World Tour victory slip away.
He executed perfectly. When Smith’s par attempt slid by the hole, Neergaard-Petersen could finally celebrate. He finished at 15-under par after a closing 70.
“I’m really at a loss for words,” Neergaard-Petersen said. “It’s been a battle all day. From the outside, sometimes you can look calm but there was a storm inside all day today.”
The victory was the culmination of a remarkable journey. He won three times on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2024, topping the Road to Mallorca Rankings. Despite earning dual membership with the PGA TOUR in 2025, he hadn’t won at the highest level.
Until Sunday.
His final round was a rollercoaster. He bogeyed the fourth, then restored his lead at the sixth before surrendering two more bogeys to sit two strokes behind Smith at the turn.
That’s when champions are made. A long-range birdie at the 12th led to a two-shot swing. He followed with another birdie on the 13th to regain the lead. Smith caught him with a birdie at the 14th, and both players birdied the 17th, setting up the dramatic finish.
The victory comes with a significant bonus: a spot at next year’s Masters Tournament.
“It means the world,” Neergaard-Petersen said. “The Masters is the event I’ve grown up watching so many times, just dreaming of playing it. To get the win here at my final event of the year was the only thing missing from a perfect year.”
Smith finished second at 14-under, one ahead of South Korea’s Si Woo Kim.
Sunday was a sensational day for Scandinavian golf. Just hours later, fellow Scandinavian Kristoffer Reitan won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.
“Yeah, Scandinavian golf is good,” Reitan said. “I’m over the moon for Rasmus. He’s an amazing player and I’m really pleased to see him get his first win on the DP World Tour.”
DP World Tour: Reitan Survives Nerve-Shredding Final Round at Nedbank Golf Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan held off playing partners Jayden Schaper and Dan Bradbury on a nerve-shredding final day of the Nedbank Golf Challenge to secure his second DP World Tour title. The Norwegian began with a commanding five-shot lead but left the door open as he struggled for consistency.
Reitan mixed four birdies with three bogeys on the front nine to hold a four-shot lead at the turn. But as he parred the first five holes of the back nine, Schaper and Bradbury closed to within two. When he bogeyed the 15th, he sat just one clear.
His level-par 71 saw Reitan finish at 17-under par, one clear of Schaper and Bradbury. It was a victory built on resilience and mental toughness.
“I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. I had a lot of nerves today,” Reitan said. “But to get it over the line in the end is a better feeling than I can describe.”
The final three holes became a test of nerve. Reitan regained his composure and parred each to add a second DP World Tour crown to the one he won at the Soudal Open in May.
“I’m trying my best to deal with nervousness, fear. It’s really, really difficult,” Reitan said. “I’ve managed to do that really well ever since mid-season last year. I’m just really glad to get it over the line and to get the courage to hit the shots that I needed to hit down the stretch.”
Reitan’s honesty about the mental challenges was refreshing. He didn’t hide from the psychological warfare of protecting a lead.
The wire-to-wire victory was particularly impressive given the quality of the field and the pressure of playing in a tournament honouring Gary Player. Reitan has enjoyed a stellar 2025, earning dual membership with the PGA TOUR.
“I’m very proud of myself. Very proud of my whole team as well,” Reitan said.
What makes Reitan’s victory impressive is his willingness to acknowledge the mental challenges. He didn’t pretend it was easy. He admitted he was nervous, that it was really difficult.
And then he went out and won anyway.
That’s the mark of a champion. Not the absence of fear, but the ability to perform despite it.
PGA TOUR Champions: Team Europe Dominates at Skechers World Champions Cup
World Golf Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer and vice captain Søren Kjeldsen led the way with 12 points each in afternoon singles Sunday as Team Europe rolled to victory in the Skechers World Champions Cup supporting Shriners Children’s. The Europeans’ dominant performance at Feather Sound Country Club resulted in a commanding victory over Team International and Team USA.
Team Europe finished with 230 points, well ahead of Team International (213.5) and Team USA (204.5). Colin Montgomerie contributed 10.5 points Sunday afternoon, capping off a week of exceptional team play.
The morning singles session saw Alex Cejka and Thomas Bjørn lead with 12.5 points each. Team captain Darren Clarke contributed 11.5 points.
“This week we all got together with all of us, the players, the wives, the caddies and everything, and our way in Europe is, when we get into a team, there’s no egos, there’s no nothing,” Clarke said. “Nobody’s bigger than anybody else, and we all pull for each other and play for each other.”
That team-first mentality proved to be the difference. Team Europe held a 4.5-point lead Thursday evening and was just 1.5 points ahead after Friday. Their play on Sunday morning put them in a comfortable position, and they wrapped up victory with a birdie from Kjeldsen on the eighth hole.
In 2023, Team USA won the inaugural tournament in a competition that came down to the final hole. This year, Team Europe left no doubt.
“Looking up and down this group of guys up here, it’s incredible,” Langer said. “Alex (Cejka) has a bad back and struggled through it. We were 7-under or something this morning through eight holes with a bad back. Incredible.”
Team USA’s Jason Caron earned the most points throughout the tournament with 60.5. The PGA Head Golf Professional from Oyster Bay, New York, has experienced a career revival on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit.
“I wish this week wouldn’t end,” Caron said. “It’s been so much fun to be part of such a great event and such a great team.”
For Team Europe, the victory was a testament to their team culture. Clarke’s leadership, Langer’s experience, Montgomerie’s competitive fire, and contributions from every member combined to produce a dominant performance.
Team Europe’s victory was comprehensive, decisive, and built on the foundation of teamwork that has defined European golf for decades.