O’Hara seals DP World Tour spots with PGA Play-Offs victory

07/03/2025

Paul O’Hara has earned starts on the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour for the 2025 season after a dominant third-round performance secured victory by two strokes at the PGA Play-Offs in Cyprus.

Following two steady opening rounds at Aphrodite Hills Golf Club, PGA National Cyprus, O’Hara surged ahead of a leading Graeme Robertson with a five-under 66.

O’Hara, the 2024 Arnold Clark Tartan Tour Champion, came out strong, with four birdies in his opening seven holes. Despite a slight hitch just before the turn, he quickly regained his momentum, adding three more birdies in the next seven holes to secure the victory.

“It’s tremendous,” O’Hara said of his win. “I remember seeing the leaderboard when I was at five-under and I knew as long as I don’t do anything silly, I could secure the win. But one bad shot could easily lead to a double or triple-bogey. It’s such a tough course to play.

“I played some pin-point golf shots today and had great control of my irons. I even think I could’ve gone three or four better, but to shoot five-under was great. To come out on top against the 24 best guys last year is great for my confidence.”

The win grants O’Hara exemptions for the Betfred British Masters, Amgen Irish Open, and BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour, as well as the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge and Irish Challenge on the HotelPlanner Tour later this year.

“To get the tour starts is amazing,” he said. “I think this was my tenth year in a row playing in this tournament. To get to play the likes of the Irish Open and British Masters is fantastic. I’m really looking forward to that this year.”

Reflecting on PGA National Cyprus, he added, “The resort is fantastic. The course, facilities, chipping greens, practice greens—it’s a place you’d like to come on a coaching trip. I’d love to come back here again.”

Despite finishing two shots short of the top spot, fellow Scot Graeme Robertson has secured his own tour starts, with his runner-up finish earning him spots in the Betfred British Masters and the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge.

Robertson entered the final round two strokes clear of O’Hara but an opening bogey and another dropped shot at the par-5 3rd allowed O’Hara to seize the lead. The Grangemouth PGA Professional, who made his PGA Tour debut late last year, responded with three birdies over the next 15 holes, but it wasn’t enough to reel in the eventual champion.

Welshman Toby Hunt narrowly fell short after posting a tournament-low 6-under 65 in the final round. An eagle on the 10th, followed by four birdies, saw Hunt climb the standings to finish in third place, just one shy of Robertson. Matt Ford and Daniel Whitby-Smith also finished within a shot of second place, posting final rounds of five and three-under respectively.

For the Scottish pair, attention now turns to a busy summer. Both players will look to continue making their mark, not only on the European circuit but also the PGA Professional Championship in June and the Scottish PGA Championship in August.

To view the full final PGA Play-Off leaderboard, click here.