DUBAI, U.A.E. — Billy Horschel talks about it a lot. Twice a winner of the biggest event on the DP World Tour, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, the 37-year-old Floridian has often wondered why his regular attendance on the Old World circuit is not replicated by more of his fellow Americans. Citing the quality of the competition, the variety of the courses and the size of the purses, Horschel has long been a strong champion of all things European.
Hang on though. He is not quite alone in playing full-time on what was once the European Tour. There is one other American in the 50-strong field gathered here for the climax to the season, the DP World Tour Championship.
OK, so Johannes Veerman is not your typical nephew of Uncle Sam. His mother is Indonesian and his father is Dutch. And over the course of an almost endlessly transient up-bringing, the young Veerman, who was born in California, has lived in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, China and England. Now he is completing his fifth year on the DP World Tour, having previously served four years on the Asian circuit. As a golfer, the cosmopolitan Texas A&M graduate has seen more than most.
“We all want to play on the PGA Tour,” Veerman says. “But that isn’t necessarily the end goal for me. I want to be able to look back on my career and contemplate the journey I’ve been on. Playing here has allowed me to make so many friends and have such great experiences. I have been exposed to all sorts of cultures.
“I know it can be intimidating to be in countries where there are so many people not speaking English. But when you think about it, we are all the same. We all like good food. We all like good music. We all like sports. There is so much common ground. I’ve made many lifelong friends, often with the sort of people, those with different political opinions and upbringings, I would never have met had I not been here. It has been such a wholesome experience. And I get to play alongside world-class players on great courses. This is a dream tour to play on. Every time I tee-up, I’m just so thankful I’m here. I couldn’t ask for more really.”
Nothing is perfect though. At least as far as Veerman is concerned, the only downside to the DP World Tour is the jetlag he endures because of the typically six- to seven-hour time differences that are a staple of his working life. But it is a small price to pay, one he feels many of his compatriots could benefit from hugely.
“I do think that more college players in the States should be looking at this tour as a place to get better and as a pathway to the PGA Tour,” he says. “I see a few of them are playing in the final round of the Q School today, so maybe that is changing.
“I know I am a better player through my time on this tour,” Veerman continues. “You have to be very versatile here. We play all over the world and experience many different grass conditions and styles of courses. It’s never the same week-to-week. That has to make you a better all-round golfer. And it’s fun. Besides, this should be a tour everyone looks at if only because of the purse sizes. Sure, I could stay close to home and play mini-tours of the Korn Ferry [Tour], but when it comes to making a good living this has to be the place if you are not on the PGA Tour. This is the second-biggest tour in the world.”
Looking forward, Veerman, who opened with a steady one-under-par 71, over the Earth course at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, is on track to be playing his sixth season on the DP World Tour in 2025. Barring a monumental effort this week—one climaxing with at least a top-three finish—the father-of-one is unlikely to grab one of the 10 PGA Tour cards available come Sunday evening. Starting this week 42nd on the Race to Dubai, he has almost certainly left himself with too much to do.
Veerman says he’s a better player through his five years now playing the DP World Tour. “You have to be very versatile here.”
Andrew Redington
But no matter. Next year promises to be a lot of fun. Past experience has already told him that.
“I do want to play on the PGA Tour at some stage,” he admits. “So while I’m happy to be here now, I do want to test myself against the best players, wherever they are. I would always want to play at least a few events here though. I see what Billy [Horschel] does. He plays a full schedule on the PGA Tour and adds in six or seven tournaments over here. That formula looks good to me.”
And surely will to others. Billy and Johannes know what they’re talking about.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
