Every first-time winner on the DP World Tour in the 2025 season

The competition on the DP World Tour is fierce with an array of international talent, highlighted by the emergence of new stars.

Across 42 events, spanning 24 countries, 19 players – representing 11 different nationalities – celebrated their breakthrough win on Tour on the 2025 Race to Dubai.

Here, we take a look back at when and where those first-time winners emerged and, how, in the case of some, it has propelled them to break further new ground.

Junghwan Lee

In the final event of the Back 9 and the regular season, South Korean Lee enjoyed a dream week on home soil as he won the Genesis Championship. A seven-under 64 in the final round - the lowest score of the week - saw him claim a three-shot victory, which saw him take up DP World Tour membership and travel to the first event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. "I really feeling like I'm dreaming," he said. "I really, really wanted to go to DP World Tour and I was actually working really hard towards that goal, but somehow I was coming up short a little bit - I was really making the effort - and now I have this really great opportunity. I'm just really grateful."

Michael Kim

A week on from missing the cut at the BMW PGA Championship, Kim secured his maiden DP World Tour title at the FedEx Open de France. After birdies at the 16th and 17th, he produced a stunning up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the par three closing hole at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche to finish one stroke ahead of Australia's Elvis Smylie and home hope Jeong weon Ko. It was the American's first worldwide victory for over seven years, having last won the 2018 John Deere Classic on the PGA TOUR. "I've had a really good year on the PGA TOUR this year. This feels like the perfect cherry on top and I hope to continue this throughout my career," said Kim, who went on to finish in the top ten a month later at the DP World India Championship on his way to finishing 35th on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World.

Ryan Gerard

The American has enjoyed a meteoric rise since turning professional in 2022, going from the PGA Tour Canada to the Korn Ferry Tour and becoming a DP World Tour and PGA TOUR winner. He had already finished second at the Valero Texas Open in 2025 when he turned up at the Barracuda Championship - the only Modified Stableford event on the PGA or DP World Tours. After a slow start in round one at Tahoe Mountain Club with seven points, Gerard found another gear, registering 27 points across rounds two and three to to share the lead fater 54 holes. He then made two eagles in a closing effort of 13 points to finish on 47, three ahead of 2021 champion Erik van Rooyen. "It's one of those things that when you're a kid it's just all you dream of doing," said Gerard. "Put in a lot of hours trying to get here, and it's pretty cool. It's really special. It's something that I can take with me forever and hopefully it's the first of many." Having started the year outside the top 200 on the Official World Golf Ranking, his recent play-off loss in Mauritius moved him inside the top 50 and he will now be heading to the Masters.

William Mouw

Making just his second start on the DP World Tour - and only 20th on his home PGA TOUR - Mouw became a winner on both as he claimed a one-shot victory over countryman Paul Peterson at the ISCO Championship. Held in the same week as the Genesis Scottish Open, he carded a brilliant closing 61 to surge up the leaderboard and overturn a seven-stroke deficit leading into the final round at Hurstbourne CC. "I was mentally ready for a play-off, and if it came to that, I was ready. But that wasn't the case and I'm just blessed to be the winner," he said.

Chris Gotterup

Beginning the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open in a share of the lead with Rory McIlroy, American Gotterup displayed impressive nerve to hold off the five-time Major champion as a closing 66 sealed a two-shot victory. As well as winning the Rolex Series title, it saw him become a two-time PGA TOUR winner and earned him a spot in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush where he would go on to finish third. "It's all hitting me," he said of his victory at The Renaissance Club. "It's just so cool. I played really well this week, and I knew today was going to be tough. I hung in there like a champ and finished it off in style."

Adrien Saddier

On his 200th DP World Tour appearance, Saddier finally broke through and became a winner at the Italian Open. Third-round leader Martin Couvra had been in control for much of the final day but five birdies on the closing stretch catapulted fellow Frenchman Saddier to the summit as he made a closing 66 to finish the tournament on 14 under par and win by two shots. With the victory, he booked his spot at The Open via The Open Qualifying Series. An emotional Saddier said: "It's great. It's taken so much work to be able to do this. I'm just grateful." Five further top tens, including a runner-up finish at the BMW PGA Championship, saw him finish ninth on the Race to Dubai and secure dual membership with the PGA TOUR for 2026.

J.J. Spaun

The Major Championships are an integral part of the makeup of the Race to Dubai schedule. After the top two players in the world - Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy - won the titles at the opening two, the U.S. Open saw unheralded American Spaun win the biggest title of his career. In a dramatic climax at a rain-soaked Oakmont Country Club, Spaun produced a birdie-birdie finish to claim a two-shot victory over Scotland's Robert MacIntyre. His victory came a few months after being edged out in a play-off by McIlroy at THE PLAYERS Championship. "I've always had aspirations and dreams but I never knew what my ceiling was, I never knew how good I could be but I'm just proud that I've been resilient in my career and pushed through a lot of things," said Spaun. "Just trying to be the best golfer I can be. And I'm happy to display that today at Oakmont."

Connor Syme

A week earlier at the KLM Open, across four days where wind and rain posed a demanding test to the field at The International, Syme stood out above the rest. In what was his 182nd appearance, he held off the challenge of nearest rival Joakim Lagergren for a two-shot victory. A milestone success for Scottish golf, it was the 150th win by players from the country on golf's Global Tour. It was also the fourth event in a row since the start of the European Swing that saw a first-time winner. Compatriots Ewen Ferguson and Calum Hill and England's Richard Mansell were among the close friends greenside to celebrate with Syme. "It's so, so nice they stuck around," he said. "I've obviously been really pleased for them and I'm really happy to have joined them and won myself, so just amazing. Amazing."

Nicolai von Dellingshausen

In the mix from the start of the week at the Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand, the German carded back-to-back 65s over the weekend as he claimed a two-shot victory over compatriot Marcel Schneider and the in-form Kristoffer Reitan. After a “nightmare” campaign on the DP World Tour in 2023 when he missed 17 cuts, he regained confidence and form across the Road to Mallorca last year to earn back his card on golf’s Global Tour. "I can't describe it, honestly,” said the emotional 32-year-old, who considered a career as a pilot before ultimately focusing on professional golf. “I'm a little bit lost for words right now. I'm trying really hard not to cry. It's been such a tough journey the last two-and-a-half years with losing the card. It's all got me to this stage right here and now I'm here!”

Kristoffer Reitan

After a middling start to his return to the DP World Tour, seven years on from his debut season, HotelPlanner Tour graduate Reitan’s campaign ignited to life in spectacular fashion. The Norwegian overcame a nine-stroke deficit to claim his maiden DP World Tour title at the Soudal Open, carding a closing 62 at Rinkven International GC to force his way into a play-off which he won. After overnight leader Ferguson and Darius van Driel missed birdie putts on the second trip back up the 18th, Reitan holed from 15 feet to cap a remarkable day in which he started in 23rd place and teed off almost three hours before the final group. “I keep thinking back to a few years ago when I was considering stopping playing because I didn't find it enjoyable any more, didn't see progress, and to be able to turn it around the way I have been doing the last couple of years has been amazing - to seal it with victory here is ridiculous," said Reitan, who is just the second Norwegian winner on the DP World Tour after Viktor Hovland.

Martin Couvra

Even before his victory at the Turkish Airlines Open, the Frenchman had already made an impressive start to life on the DP World Tour. A winner as an amateur on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2023, he registered seven top ten finishes to earn promotion last season. High in belief with six top tens to his name, he became the latest HotelPlanner Tour graduate to land his first DP World Tour win. Holding the lead at the halfway stage, a third-round 72 left him four shots off the pace going into the final day but a brilliant closing 64 helped him claim a two-shot victory at Regnum Carya. “It was amazing to win on my first year on the DP World Tour – it's just a dream,” he said.

Marco Penge

At the Hainan Classic, the final event of the Asian Swing, the Englishman produced a timely hat-trick of birdies at the 12th, 13th and 14th in the final round to race clear of the chasing pack and wrap up victory on his 47th Tour start. His victory at Mission Hills Haikou secured the 2023 HotelPlanner Tour Number One his ticket to the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club and a first US-based Major Championship appearance. "This obviously means the world to me," reflected Penge, who secured his playing rights for this season with a nerveless display at the Genesis Championship in October last year. "It's something that I've always dreamt of achieving - winning on the biggest stage." Penge would go on to win twice more in 2025.

Eugenio Chacarra

Playing on a tournament invitation, the Spaniard claimed his breakthrough title on just his ninth DP World Tour start at the Hero Indian Open. Over the challenging DLF Golf & Country Club, he recovered from a tough start to the final round to then enjoy a brilliant birdie burst, before making a number of crucial par saves to keep the chasing pack at bay. "It was a tough day, we knew it was going to be a long day with a lot of pressure and obviously not having the start I really wanted to," said the 25-year-old.

Richard Mansell

The Englishman earned a long-awaited title as he made a clutch birdie putt on the final green to seal a one-shot victory at the weather-shortened Porsche Singapore Classic. After Keita Nakajima had earlier set the clubhouse target with a flawless closing 65 at Laguna National Golf Resort Club, Mansell delivered under pressure to seal a long-awaited first win on Tour in his 103rd appearance. "What a feeling. Just to get into that position, and I played so well today," he said. “And it makes those near-misses and when I've got ahead of myself in the past just kind of worth it and it just means that much more."

Dylan Naidoo

A long-time regular in events co-sanctioned by the DP World and Sunshine Tours, Naidoo made a big career breakthrough with victory at the Investec South African Open Championship. After the tournament was reduced to 54 holes on Sunday, and with Englishman Laurie Canter and South African Naidoo locked together at the top of the leaderboard on 14 under par after three rounds at Durban Country Club, the latter emerged from a play-off with a birdie at the first extra hole. Jubilant scenes around the green ensued as the fans celebrated a sixth successive home victory at this historic event on the DP World Tour. As well as earning a winner's category, his victory earned him a spot at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.

Jacques Kruyswijk

Kruyswijk did not put a foot wrong in the final round of the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa as he carded four birdies to hold off the challenge of in-form playing partner John Parry and complete a bogey-free weekend. "It's special,” said Kruyswijk. “I'm a little bit lost for words, but this is for my family back home, my friends, my team and this is for South Africa. I'm happy that I can keep the trophy on African soil and obviously bring it back to South Africa. It makes me very proud.”

Alejandro del Rey

Spaniard Del Rey enjoyed a week to remember as he went bogey-free over his final 36 holes to win the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. Cruising to a four-shot victory, he entered the DP World Tour winner's circle for the first time on his 70th start. "It's amazing because it's basically what I work for,” said Del Rey, who graduated from the DP World Tour Qualifying School in 2022. "I got to a point last year where I just felt like I wasn't having that much fun on the golf course because for me, playing for 20th, 30th place wasn't that meaningful at that point."

Ryggs Johnston

Fresh off coming through the DP World Tour Qualifying School, American Johnston won the ISPS HANDA Australian Open. In just his second DP World Tour start, the then World Number 954 – named after the Mel Gibson character from the Lethal Weapon movies – belied his limited pre-tournament expectations to claim an impressive three-shot victory. Not only did the former Arizona State golfer claim his first win as a professional, but he also guaranteed qualification for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush. “I turned up pretty tired from all the travel and Q-School and everything,” he reflected. “Didn't get a practice round here with the weather. I didn't really have any expectations, which probably helped me in the end."

Elvis Smylie

The tone was set at the very first event of the season as Smylie won the BMW Australian PGA Championship on home soil at Royal Queensland Golf Club. In just his 16th appearance on the DP World Tour, and just a month on from his first professional victory on the PGA TOUR of Australasia, Smylie held off the challenge of Major Championship winner Cam Smith to complete a wire-to-wire success. "It's a dream come true," said Smylie, who began the final round in an all-Australian group alongside Smith and Marc Leishman. "I looked up to these guys since I was a kid and just being in their presence and to compete against them for the title, I've learnt so much and just so grateful and so honoured right now.”

First-time DP World Tour winners on 2025 Race to Dubai

• Elvis Smylie - BMW Australian PGA Championship

• Ryggs Johnston - ISPS HANDA Australian Open

• Alejandro del Rey - Ras Al Khaimah Championship

• Jacques Kruyswijk - Magical Kenya Open presented by absa

• Dylan Naidoo - Investec South African Open Championship

• Richard Mansell - Porsche Singapore Classic

• Eugenio Chacarra - Hero Indian Open

• Marco Penge - Hainan Classic

• Martin Couvra - Turkish Airlines Open

• Kristoffer Reitan - Soudal Open

• Nicolai von Dellingshausen - Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand

• Connor Syme - KLM Open

• J.J. Spaun - U.S. Open

• Adrien Saddier - Italian Open

• Chris Gotterup - Genesis Scottish Open

• William Mouw - ISCO Championship

• Ryan Gerard - Barracuda Championship

• Michael Kim - FedEx Open de France

• Junghwan Lee - Genesis Championship