The story of the Back 9 

Nine events, eight countries visited and eight different winners. It's been another dramatic Back 9 on the Race to Dubai in 2025.

Introduced for the first time by the DP World Tour in 2024 to great success, with the aim of grouping historic tournaments and long-standing opens, a mixture of international stars and local heroes have come together again to produce some memorable sporting action.

Across a ten-week span, with a one-week break midway through for the Ryder Cup, Golf's Global Tour has been the focus of attention as a host of household-known locations have served as the backdrop.

Encompassing three national championships, the return of the Rolex Series and a brand-new big-money event, star players from around the world have gathered - many of whom with the intention of qualifying for the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs in the United Arab Emirates.

Here, we take a look back at how this season's Back 9 unfolded.

Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo

For the second year running, The Belfry played host to the start of the Back 9 and was also the finish to Ryder Cup qualification for Team Europe. As such, there was immense scrutiny on Rasmus Højgaard, who needed to finish in a two-way tie for 29th to overtake Shane Lowry and earn an automatic spot in Luke Donald's team. After comfortably making the cut, he produced a 69 on Moving Day to head into the final round in a strong position to achieve his goal and despite a whobble in the middle part of his final round, he signed for a closing 71 to finish in a tie for 13th. While the Dane had his reason for celebration, it was fellow Scandinavian Alex Noren who was hoisting the trophy aloft as he fought off Rasmus' twin brother Nicolai and a charging Kazuma Kobori to end a seven-year wait for his 11th DP World Tour title.

Omega European Masters

Arguably the most visually stunning venue on the DP World Tour schedule, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club annually captures the imagination. But when in the mountains, the weather can cause havoc and that was case as a series of lengthy fog delays throughought the opening day meant only eight groups completed 18 holes. But as the weather picked up, there was no shortage of fine golf on show on a marathon second day that saw Adrien Saddier - already a winner earlier in the year in Italy - hit the summit. But as the Frenchman fell away over the weekend, past champion Thriston Lawrence seized the initiative with fellow former winners Matt Wallace, Rasmus Højgaard and Matt Fitzpatrick all also in contention. Despite a slow start to his final round, Lawrence recovered to card a closing 66 and clinch his fifth DP World Tour title and a second in Crans Montana following his 2022 triumph. The same week, France's Mike Lorenzo-Vera bid an emotional farewell to professional golf at 40.

Amgen Irish Open

Golf in Ireland has long gained a glowing reputation for drawing big crowds, and that was never clearer to see than as The K Club played host to Ireland's national open for the second time in the last three seasons. So, it was perhaps fitting that one of the country's heroes should emerge triumphant. Twelve months on from missing an eagle putt on the 72nd hole at Royal County Down to lose to Rasmus Hojgaard, McIlroy sent the capacity crowd into uncontrolled excitement when he rolled in an eagle putt from 27 feet to force a play-off with Sweden's Joakim Lagergren. After both players birdied the par-five 18th at the first two occassions, Lagergren found the water with his approach third time around. McIlroy then found the green in two, before casually two-putting from distance to all but seal victory as his opponent's chip-in birdie attempt after a penalty drop slipped by the hole. It capped a dream Grand Slam homecoming for the World Number Two, strengthening his position at the summit of the Race to Dubai Rankings.

BMW PGA Championship

McIlroy's dramatic success only fuelled further anticipation ahead of the impending Ryder Cup at Bethpage, with 11 of Luke Donald's 12-strong team teeing it up at DP World Tour HQ for the return of the Rolex Series. But while there was an impressive showing from the European cohort, with ten making the cut, it was the in-form Noren - announced a week earlier as a Vice Captain for the biennial spectacular in New York - who stole the headlines as he won in his second DP World Tour title in less than a month. A winner at Wentworth Club in 2017, Noren went into the final round locked alongside Saddier and nothing could seperate the pair after a thrilling back-nine battle, in which a stellar chasing pack fought to make their way to the top, meaning a play-off was required for the second week running. After both players came up short in two, it was Noren who chipped to three feet before rolling in the birdie putt to become the winning-most Swede in DP World Tour history, moving past Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson.

FedEx Open de France

The Back 9 reached its halfway point with continental Europe's oldest national open heading to a change of scenery. With work taking place at Le Golf National, this year's event moved to Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche for the first time since 1982. With a plethora of home talent on show joined by a host of global stars, it was no surprise that the tournament should reach a thrilling climax. With a host of players in contention down the stretch, including five-time Major champion and overnight co-leader Brooks Koepka, it was fellow American Michael Kim who celebrated his maiden DP World Tour title. After back-to-back birdies at the 16th and 17th saw him claim the outright lead, he holed a nerveless par putt from 16 feet to complete an excellent up and down to finish one shot clear of Australia's Elvis Smylie and France's Jeong weon Ko, who had earlier set the clubhouse target after carding two eagles in front of a vocal home backing.

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

After the drama of the Ryder Cup which saw Europe hold off a fightback from the United States, the Back 9 picked up in Scotland with a celebration of links golf. Bethpage stars Tommy Fleetwood, Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre all made the journey back over to Europe to take their place in another high-calibre international field. Perhaps to be expected, weather was not kind across the renowned venues of St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns as Storm Amy resulted in high rainfall and strong winds, resulting in the tournament being reduced to 54 holes. By then, home hero MacIntyre had moved into a share of the lead alongside South Africa's Richard Sterne with a sensational 66 in brutal conditions at Kingsbarns. MacIntyre took control with a flawless front nine that featured four birdies at St Andrews and never looked back, with a third 66 of the week helping him to a four-shot victory to become the first Scottish winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship since Colin Montgomerie in 2005.

Open de España presented by Madrid

From the cold and wet conditions on the links in Scotland to the sunny, tree-lined and frequent elevation changes at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in Spain, the conditions couldn't have been much more of a contrast. But after a rare off week in Scotland, Marco Penge returned to form in style to become the first player to win three times on the 2025 Race to Dubai. The big-hitting Englishman held a four-shot advantage heading into the final round, but saw countryman and playing partner Dan Brown - who received treatment to his right shoulder and neck on a dramatic final day - card a closing birdie in regulation play to force a play-off. However, Penge birdied the 18th with an eight-foot putt to seal victory and earn automatic qualification for the Masters at Augusta and The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale next year.

DP World India Championship

New to the Race to Dubai schedule, Delhi Golf Club welcomed Ryder Cup heroes, Major stars and an array of international winners on the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR for the inaugural DP World India Championship. Among those was McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, who were both making their first appearance in India along with PGA TOUR regulars Brian Harman and Ben Griffin. But past experience in India proved beneficial as Fleetwood - a DP World ambassador - continued his dream year with victory. A PGA TOUR winner for the first time in August, and member of Europe's Ryder Cup success at Bethpage, the Englishman produced a brilliant burst of scoring around the turn on his way to a closing 65 to earn a two-shot victory. In the immediate aftermath of his latest success, Fleetwood revealed his son, Frankie, had tasked him in the days before the tournament with having the opportunity to celebrate with him on the green.

Genesis Championship

Co-sanctioned with the KPGA, the final event of the regular season on the DP World Tour took place at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club. With several DP World Tour members fighting to either retain their playing privileges or extend their seasons into the DP World Tour Play-Offs, there was plenty at stake in Korea. There was no shortage of drama, particularly in the closing stages of the final round. Jordan Gumberg remarkably holed out for eagle to retain his category 10 status, while Thomas Detry birdied his final hole to keep his card. On top of that, Adam Scott also ensured he retained his playing privileges on the DP World Tour, while Laurie Canter made an unlikely eagle putt from long range at the last to make a potentially decisive move in his bid to seal dual membership with the PGA TOUR. Amid all that, home hope Junghwan Lee surged to victory with a closing 64 to claim his maiden DP World Tour title and secure membership in the process, making him eligible for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in November.