A round up of the weekend

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There were three tournaments that took place over the weekend across the world of golf. 

The DP World Tour entered its playoff phase with the Abu Dhabi Championship, whilst over on the PGA Champions Tour the top ranked 35 players competed for the honour of being named the Champions Tour money winner. The PGA Tour’s FedEx Fall Series is also winding to a close, with those battling for a place in the coveted 125 man field competing in the World Wide Technology Championship. 

With plenty of drama taking place, here is a recap of the headlines.

Paul Waring holds on to win the biggest title of his career at the Abu Dhabi Championship

Ever since shooting the course record at Yas Links during the second round of this year’s Abu Dhabi Championship, Paul Waring had to fend off the very best players on the DP World Tour.

Starting the third round with a five stroke lead, that lead was reduced to just one stroke ahead of the final round and many big names were beginning to circle. 

With many expecting Waring to drop away as the pressure increased, the Englishman would have been glancing nervously at the leaderboard, particularly as Tyrell Hatton, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy all made their moves.

Knowing that birdies were very much the order of the day, Waring did a remarkable job of keeping his composure. Opening his fourth and final round with two birdies on the 1st and 2nd holes, Waring showed that he was up for the fight and was able to make the turn at -3.

With the pressure increasing, Waring’s touch didn’t desert him. Making yet another birdie on the tenth, by the time that the Englishman reached the par 3 17th, he was tied at the top with Tyrell Hatton who was already back in the clubhouse. 

Taking aim at the green, Waring’s approach was solid if not spectacular, leaving himself around 30 feet for birdie. Knowing that two putts would give him a chance of victory as he headed up the last, Waring sent a putt that broke wickedly towards the hole and to his and the watching crowd’s amazement saw the ball disappear into the cup. 

Boosted by his one shot lead, Waring knew that a par on the accessible par 5 final hole would be enough for the victory. Still being aggressive, Waring found himself on the green knowing that two putts would be enough for the win. However, he would only need one. 

Popping home his birdie putt, his win was assured and his victory will be life changing.

Securing his place on next year’s PGA Tour, Waring will be able to compete for some of the sport's biggest prizes which were previously unavailable to him. He has also vaulted up the Race to Dubai standings and will tee it up at next week’s Tour Championship in 6th place. 

Whilst his chances of winning the overall money list is slim, he will be looking to back up this win with another solid performance.

Paul Waring

Austin Eckroat produces a magical final round to take home the World Wide Technology Championship 

Austin Eckroat won his second PGA Tour title of the year when producing a special final round to take home the World Wide Technology Championship. 

Starting the day trailing Carson Young, Nico Echevarria and Justin Lower by one stroke, the American showed exactly why many believe he can be a force in the game for years to come when landing the tournament by one stroke from Lower and Young.

Played on the scenic setting of the El Dorado course in Los Cabos, El Dorado’s wide fairways and accessible greens made it a birdie paradise and birdies and low scoring was very much the order of the day.

Showing from the early stages of his round that he had nothing to lose, Eckroat got off to a brilliant start, birdieing five of his first six holes. 

Announcing himself as a real contender, Eckroat was able to keep his foot on the pedal and he started his back nine in an equally impressive fashion by securing birdies on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th holes. 

Finding himself in the lead, he made a crucial birdie on the 17th before nerves got the better of him and he made a bogey on the 18th to leave the tournament in the balance. 

Having to play a waiting game, he nervously watched on as each of his rivals couldn’t close the gap to him. 

Now a multiple PGA Tour winner and at a career high in the world rankings of 38, big things can be expected of him next season and he will want to cement his position as one of the best emerging players on the PGA Tour. 

Austin Eckroat

Bernhard Langer keeps his extraordinary Champions Tour winning record alive 

It’s been a great season on the PGA Champions Tour. Some brilliant players such as Steve Stricker, Ernie Els Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington have all helped take the tour to the next level but it was one of the Tour’s most established names who stole the headlines at the season ending Charles Schwab Champions Cup.

Bernhard Langer’s season was spoiled thanks to the German tearing his Achilles back in February when playing pickleball, but over the last few months, the German has been stepping up his recovery and this weekend he was certainly back to his best. 

Leading by one stroke from Steve Alker, Langer made hay on the front nine, posting six birdies on his front nine. 

Unable to shake off the attentions of Alker, Langer made a few uncharacteristic mistakes and saw his five shot lead that he had earlier in the round wiped out. 

Heading up the final hole level with the New Zealander, after finding trouble off the tee, Langer had left himself a birdie chance from some 25 feet. Knowing that a birdie would be enough for the win, he watched as the ball broke violently from left to right and snuck into the side of the hole.

Normally so calm and composed, upon seeing the ball drop into the hole, the German took off his trademark visa and slammed it onto the floor. 

Langer's win marked his 18th consecutive year where he was able to record a victory on the Champions Tour. Now 67, the German is still showing no signs of slowing down and should be a real contender in next year’s race to top the Champions Tour money list. 

Although Alker had to settle for a second place finish this weekend, Alker’s efforts were enough for him to finish in the top spot in the 2024 Money List and take home the $1 million bonus. 

His victory was his second and he will hope to make it a trio of wins next season when the competition resumes once more.