Jayden Schaper won.
And Ryan Gerard got what he came for.
More than one professional was left satisfied, then, after leaving the island nation of Mauritius, located off the east coast of Africa, which gives us an interesting end to the golf year 2025. Let’s start with Schaper, or the winner no. 1. His ending was good.
Last week, the 24-year-old South African won the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Championship after making an eagle on the first hole of a playoff. This week, at the DP World Tour’s Mauritius Open? Schaper made it back-to-back wins — after another playoff eagle, this one a hole out from about 50 yards from the green on the par-5 18th hole at Heritage La Reserve Golf Links. Schaper opened his week with a pair of 69s, then closed with two 64s, and he’ll enter next year as one of the hottest players in the world.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Schaper said of the DP World Tour. “This is such a crazy way to end a tournament. It’s been such a great week, such a great venue, the support, the golf course. From start to finish. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
“Christmas will be good this year and New Years. It’s just unreal. I’m waiting five years for the first (title) and then next week (to get the second) is pretty cool.”
Then there’s Gerard, or winner no. 2.
The 26-year-old North Carolina pro had started the week ranked 57th in the Official World Golf Ranking — and the top 50 at the end of the year receive invitations to the 2026 Masters. So Gerard entered the Mauritius Openflew 10,000 miles to the island and hoped he would finish in a two-way tie for fourth or better, which would move him into the top 50. (The indefatigable Ryan French of the Monday website Q Info first reported Gerard’s plan, and you can read French’s story here.)
Only Gerard did better than he should have.
He almost won.
After rounds of 68, 69 and 63, Gerard found himself a shot on Schaper’s back on the 72nd hole, then dropped the ball 5 yards behind a shot from a green bunker. From there, he broke away, moved into a playoff with Schaper — and officially secured his first start at Augusta National.
“I had a pretty good year this year and unfortunately I didn’t finish well,” he said after Friday’s second round. “But the kind folks at OWGR sent me some year-end projections that put me just outside the top 50.
“I thought if I had one more crack at it, I’d give it my best shot and I could hang my hat on giving it my all for the season. Top 50 at the end of the year going into the Masters, so it’s kind of a special kick in the pants to come 10,000 miles from Florida and make it. It wasn’t certain early in the season, but early in the season, in the basket. It’s a really cute.
