This Week in Golf: From Mexico to Milan - big names, big money, and a major on the line
LIV Golf is back in action, teeing off in Mexico with its trademark 54-hole format and a hefty $25 million purse up for grabs. Hometown heroes Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer are sure to fire up the local crowd, joined by the usual cast of LIV stars.
Meanwhile, the DP World Tour sticks around in China for the Hainan Classic. It might seem convenient staying in the same country two weeks in a row—until you realize the tour has moved nearly 2,000 kilometers south, with a five-hour flight separating last week's stop from this one. Whoever said scheduling golf tournaments was easy?
On the PGA Tour, it's time for the always-entertaining Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This unique team event spices things up with fourballs (betterball) on Thursday and Saturday, and alternate-shot foursomes on Friday and Sunday. While the event offers valuable FedEx Cup points, there are no Masters invitations or OWGR points on the line.
Who could forget Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry's electric win here last year? They're back to defend their title—and we always appreciate when champions return. It adds to the drama, doesn't it?
Expect a lighter, more festive vibe this week—a welcome breather from the grind of back-to-back 72-hole tournaments.
Over on the HotelPlanner Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour), players are catching their breath after two weeks in the UAE. Italy's Renato Paratore, a former Dubai resident, made the most of it, claiming back-to-back wins and surging to second in the Road to Mallorca rankings. A well-earned break awaits.
In the women's game, it's a big one—the first major of the season. The Chevron Championship takes place in Texas with a whopping $7.9 million purse. It's the beginning of a high-stakes stretch in the LPGA calendar.
And finally, in Italy, Pre-Qualifying for the 2025 US Women's Open gets underway at Golf Club Ambrosiano in Milan. These 18-hole qualifiers are always full of drama and emerging stories—definitely worth keeping an eye on.
A great week ahead for golf fans. Best of luck to everyone teeing it up around the globe!
This Week's Events at a Glance:
LIV Golf
Friday 25th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
LIV Golf Mexico City
Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico
Purse: $25 million
PGA Tour
Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana, US
Purse: $9.2 million
Korn Ferry Tour
Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
Veritez Bank Championship
Texas Rangers Golf Club, Arlington, Texas
Purse: $1 million
DP World Tour
Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
Hainan Classic
Blackstone Course, Mission Hills, Hainan Island, China
Purse: $2.55 million
LPGA Tour
Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April, 2025
The Chevron Championship
The Woodlands, Texas, US
Purse: $7.9 million
Ladies European Tour
Sunday 29th April, 2025
US Women's Open – Pre-Qualifier
Golf Club Ambrosiano, Milan, Italy
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