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European star Nicolai Højgaard’s stunning victory at the DP World Tour Championship was the icing on the cake for an impressive week for Callaway staffers around the world.
Højgaard held off an elite field at the European circuit’s finale to claim his third career victory, while down in Australia, Callaway staffer David Micheluzzi earned a come-from-behind win at the Vic PGA just days after Callaway extended its commitment to Australian golf’s governing bodies and men’s and women’s tours.
Denmark’s Højgaard, who debuted for Europe at the recent Ryder Cup, began the final day at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course in Dubai sitting three shots behind the lead.
But the 22-year-old, who uses a full bag of Callaway and Odyssey products, came from the clouds with a 64. It was a round highlighted by nine birdies. Immediately after his only bogey of the day, at the par-4 12th, Højgaard bounced back with five straight birdies to finish at 21 under par. He defeated Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Wallace and Viktor Hovland by two shots. Callaway superstar Jon Rahm, the world No.3 and masters champion, finished T5 at 17 under.
The turning point of Højgaard’s barnstorming back nine came at the 480-yard, par-4 16th , when he blasted his tee shots 379 yards down the fairway with a whopping ballspeed of 190 miles per hour. That clutch shot was struck by his Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (10.5°) driver and Callaway Chrome Soft X Triple Track ball.
From 107 yards out, Højgaard wedged it in tight and made the putt. His fourth consecutive birdie took the outright lead at 20 under.
Højgaard added one more at the par-3 17th and needed only a par at the par-5 18th for his maiden Rolex Series win, which propels him to 50th on the Official World Golf Rankings.
“It means a lot, it’s the sweetest one,” Højgaard said. “So much hard work has been put in over the past couple years – it feels amazing, this is for my family and everything they put in over the years.”
“I have to say this is the best golf I’ve played in a tournament and the strongest field in my three wins,” he said. “This is the sweetest way to finish the year. I can’t believe we finished on such a high note. I’m definitely going to enjoy this.”
Højgaard also finished runner up to Rory McIlroy in the final 2023 Race to Dubai standings. The Dane is now off to the PGA Tour in 2024, having earned enough non-member FedEx Cup points (466) to surpass the equivalent of 125th on the rankings.
Nicolai’s winning bag included a Paradym Triple Diamond 10.5° Driver – Callaway’s most successful Driver introduction on Tour ever. In the final round in Dubai, Højgaard hit 78.6 percent of fairways. He was even better with his Callaway Apex MB irons, hitting 17/18 greens in regulation. His 1.6 putts per green in regulation came courtesy of an Odyssey O-Works Jailbird Mini Putter, featuring Stroke Lab shaft technology.
Nicolai has also used a Callaway Chrome Soft X Triple Track golf ball for the entire 2023 DP World Tour season, during which he finished in the top 10 on seven occasions. Neil Howie, President and Managing Director of Callaway EMEA, said: “Nicolai’s victory crowns a truly phenomenal year on Tour for him and #TeamCallaway. I can’t wait to see how Nicolai, and all our staffers, build on this stunning performance using a very special line of 2024 products.”
What’s in the Bag – Nicolai Højgaard
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (10.5°) – Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White 70-TX shaft
Fairway: Callaway prototype (16.5°)
Irons: Callaway Apex MB ’21, 4-10
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 5 50°; Callaway JAWS Raw 56° and 60°
Putter: Odyssey O-Works Jailbird Mini
Golf Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X Triple Track
PGA Tour-bound
There were 10 PGA Tour cards for the 2024 season on offer courtesy of the partnership between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. Those cards went to the top-10 (not already exempt) on the DP World Tour’s season-long rankings, which were finalised in Dubai. Among the 10 were Callaway players Alexander Bjork, Sami Valimaki, and Jorge Campillo.
PGA Tour
Over in the US, Callaway team member Adam Svensson, from Canada, earned his third top-five result of the year at the RSM Classic at Sea Island, Georgia. Svensson was the defending RSM champion. The RSM Classic was the last official PGA Tour event of 2023 and the final of seven tournaments within the FedEx Cup Fall series. Svensson finished T5 at 19 under par. He was just second player to record a top-10 in their title defence at the RSM Classic (Chris Kirk was the only other defending champion to do so, with a T4 in 2014).
What’s in the Bag – Adam Svensson
Driver: Paradym Triple Diamond (10.5°) – Aldila Rogue White 130MSI 70TX shaft
3-Wood: Rogue ST LS (15°)
Hybrid: Paradym (18°)
4-iron Apex TCB Raw (21°)
Irons (5-9) Apex MB WS, lofts, 21, 26.5, 30, 34, 38, 42
Wedges: Jaws MD5 46°, 50°, 56°
Putter: Toulon Santa Monica
Ball: Chrome Soft X LS
LPGA Tour
At the CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, Callaway player Atthaya Thitikul finished fifth at 20 under par, seven shots back from winner Amy Yang. The event was the finale of the LPGA Tour and all 60 players who qualified needed only to win to become the Race to CME Globe champion.
What’s in the Bag – Atthaya Thitikul
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond, 9°
Fairways: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond, 15°
Utility: Apex UW, 22°
Irons: Apex Pro (4-PW)
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (48°, 52°, 58°)
Putter: Odyssey Toulon Atlanta
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X
PGA Tour of Australasia
On Thursday of last week, as the Vic PGA was teeing off at Moonah Links, Callaway announced a new three-year extension to its commitment to Australia’s governing bodies of Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and WPGA Tour of Australasia. Callaway is the first golf equipment partner to undertake an Australian Golf partnership. It was fitting then that Callaway’s Micheluzzi chased down a seven-shot deficit early in the final round to claim victory at the Vic PGA. Micheluzzi posted a four-under 68 on the final day at Moonah Links to finish at 14 under, one shot ahead of Ben Eccles.
Victory caps a whirlwind year for Micheluzzi, who broke out last year by winning three times on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and taking its Order of Merit. That moneylist victory had already secured Micheluzzi’s promotion from Australasia to the DP World Tour via a pathway between the two tours. Micheluzzi starts his career as a DP World Tour member at the co-sanctioned Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland this week (November 23-26).
What’s in the Bag – David Micheluzzi
Driver: Paradym Triple Diamond (8.5°)
Fairway: Paradym Triple Diamond T (14°)
Utility: X Forged UT Tour (19°)
Irons: Apex TCB 4-10
Wedges: Jaws Raw 50°, 54°, 58°
Putter: Odyssey WH OG 2Ball CH
Ball: Chrome Soft X LS
