The first-time winners on the DP World Tour so far this season

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

Across 23 events, spanning 15 countries, 13 players – representing nine different nationalities – have celebrated their breakthrough win on Tour so far 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.

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 J.J. Spaun win the biggest title of his career. In a dramatic finish 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, Connor 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."

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 and qualification for each of the 'Back 9' events, 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 Alejandro 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 in July. “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 Cameron 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