Golf tournaments in winter: Where are the pros still active?
Tour golf continues over the winter months
The 2022 golfing year is drawing to a close. Nevertheless, a number of top-class tournaments still await all friends of the elegant sport.
The international golf world can look forward to exciting tournaments in both the men's and women's fields this year. From the Dubai World Championship to the CME Group Tour Championship the year is far from over for all golf fans.
Sport is particularly popular because of the excitement. Many people also use sporting events to test their own luck. This is possible with sports betting. Bookmakers offer free bets and lucrative odds. Attractive profits can be made in this way.
The 2022 golf year: a foretaste of the upcoming final tournaments
The golf calendar of 2022 has delivered everything that fans had hoped for in advance. Regarding the men, the DP World Tour as well as the PGA Tour and Challenge Tour are particularly worth mentioning. But there was also great golf to be seen by the women. Whether on the Ladies European Tour or the LPGA Tour. The international golf elite delivered this year.
Ladies' golf in particular is attracting more and more attention. This was particularly evident on this year's LPGA Tour. The ever-increasing prize money only reflects the growing media presence of women's golf.
Pelican Women's Championship
Already on 10 November the Pelican Women's Championship will be starting in the Tampa Bay area in Florida, USA. On 13 November, the Pelican Women's Championship will come to an end again. At this tournament in women's golf, all players compete for a considerable prize money of a total of two million US dollars. The tournament is part of the LPGA Tour for the 2022 season.
Seven of the world's top ten players will compete in the Pelican Women's Championship. Among others, fan favourites Brooke Henderson and Lydia Ko will compete. Tampa area resident Brittany Lincicome will return to the LPGA Tour after maternity leave.
Jin Young Ko, the defending champion and current world number one, will also be on the green in Tampa Bay. In addition, Nelly and Jessica Korda as well as Lexi Thompson can hope for a share of the prize money. Here, only the absolute top of the world in women's golf will compete against each other. This year's field of participants is considered to be the best in terms of quality since the tournament was founded.
Dubai World Championship
The Dubai World Championship is considered one of the most highly endowed professional golf tournaments worldwide. Prize money totalling nine million US dollars is paid out here. The winner alone receives an impressive three million US dollars. The tournament takes place between 17 and 20 November. As the final event of the Race to Dubai, this golf tournament is part of the DP World Tour. The best 60 players in the season ranking of the Race to Dubai are qualified for the Dubai World Championship. In case of possible cancellations of qualified players, they will be moved up accordingly.
Since 2009, this tournament has been held at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai. Last year, the American Collin Morikawa won by three strokes. He was able to beat both Alexander Björk and Matthew Fitzpatrick. In 2020, Fitzpatrick won the tournament by one stroke ahead of Lee Westwood.
CME Group Tour Championship
The LPGA Tour's season finale in women's golf is the CME Group Tour Championship. Like the Dubai World Championship, the professional golf tournament has a field of participants limited to 60 players. The first tournament of the CME Group Championship took place in November 2011. At that time, the pros played at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando. Today, the tournament is held at the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples. Accordingly, the home of the tournament remains the American state of Florida.
With a whopping seven million US dollars, this tournament is one of the most highly endowed in all of professional women's golf. The winner alone receives prize money of two million US dollars. This is the largest prize ever paid for an LPGA Tour victory. Each participant receives a minimum payment of 40,000 US dollars. A thoroughly lucrative tournament participation.
The South Korean Ko Jin Young won in each of the last two years. The number one in the women's world rankings won by one stroke against Japan's Nasa Hataoka in 2021 and by a commanding five strokes against Australia's Hannah Green and South Korea's Kim Sei Young in 2020.
PNC Championship
The crowning finale of the golf year will take place on 17 December. The so-called Father & Son Challenge will take place at the Ritz Carlton Golf in Orlando. At the annual golf tournament, PGA Tour and Champions Tour winners usually play together with their sons.
Thus, the age of the participants gladly ranges from middle school age to retirement age. The only way to qualify for the special tournament is by winning a Major Championship or The Players Championship. This traditional tournament has been held in America since 1995.
In 2005, Fuzzy Zoeller played with his daughter for the first time. Bernard Langer also chose his daughter as a partner for his own two-player team. In 2013, Arnold Palmer played the PNC Championship with his grandson Sam Saunders. Accordingly, the name of the event has definitely been interpreted more loosely over the years.
Last year, the American John Daly won the tournament with his son John Daly II. By two strokes, the two were able to leave Tiger Woods and son Charlie Woods behind. Two years ago, Justin Thomas won together with his father Mike Thomas. They were able to beat Vijay Singh and Qass Singh, who come from Fiji, by one stroke.
High-class sport, a lot of fun and many illustrious names - a great end to the year for the international golf world. Shortly before Christmas, the golf year will come to an atmospheric end with family flair in the American state of Florida. An event in a class of its own.
