It was a busy week across the world’s major tours, marked by star performances, new champions, and ongoing political friction in professional golf. Xander Schauffele dominated in Japan, Jeeno Thitikul triumphed in Shanghai, and Marco Penge celebrated a breakthrough in Spain—all while merger talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf stalled once again.
Major Winners of the Week
PGA Tour – Baycurrent Classic (Japan):
Xander Schauffele claimed his 10th career title at 19-under, continuing his excellent season and reaffirming U.S. dominance on the international swing.
LPGA Tour – Buick LPGA Shanghai (China):
Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul won her second title of 2025 in a tense five-hole playoff against Minami Katsu, cementing her rise among the game’s elite.
DP World Tour – Open de España (Spain):
England’s Marco Penge captured his maiden victory in a playoff, a breakthrough moment in Madrid worth €3.25 million in total purse.
PGA Tour Champions – SAS Championship (North Carolina):
Germany’s Alex Cejka added another senior title, holding off Tommy Gainey and Cameron Percy. The event, played at Prestonwood CC, offered $2.1 million and served as a tune-up for the Schwab Cup Playoffs.
Asian Tour – International Series Japan:
Lucas Herbert edged Younghan Song to take the title and $360,000 winner’s share.
PGA Tour of Australasia – CKB WA PGA Championship:
Australia’s Andrew Martin prevailed in Kalgoorlie, continuing strong local form.
Prize Money Snapshot
- PGA Tour – Baycurrent Classic: $8 million purse / $1.44 million to winner
- DP World Tour – Open de España: €3.25 million purse
- LPGA Tour – Buick LPGA Shanghai: $2.1 million purse
- PGA Tour Champions – SAS Championship: $2.1 million purse
- Asian Tour – Int’l Series Japan: $360,000 winner’s share
- Australasia – WA PGA Championship: $250,000 purse
The PGA Tour continues to set the financial benchmark, while Europe’s DP World Tour remains competitive on a mid-tier level. The LPGA and PGA Tour Champions share similar purses, and regional circuits in Asia and Australasia operate with much smaller budgets, highlighting global inequality in golf economics.
Business and Tour Politics
Sponsorship stability defined the week—Buick reaffirmed its long-term LPGA commitment in China, while Japanese brands strengthened ties with the PGA Tour’s Asian swing. Yet the unresolved PGA–LIV dispute overshadowed much of the news cycle. Negotiations have reportedly “stalled again,” with governance, player control, and equity stakes still key barriers.
Outlook
Next up: the BMW Ladies Championship on the LPGA Tour, followed by the Zozo Championship in Japan and Andalucía Masters in Spain. Expect heightened attention as tours push into the final stretch of 2025—with prize money, world-ranking access, and commercial alliances continuing to shape golf’s divided landscape.