Turkish Airlines Open 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

THE Turkish Airlines Open returns to the DP World Tour schedule this week for the first time since 2019. It is a tournament with a rich and storied history and has produced some world-class champions.

In both 2013 and 2014 the tournament was the penultimate event of the DP World Tour Final Series.

After a six-year absence, the Turkish Airlines Open is back on the DP World schedule and will be played at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort. The first three tournaments were held at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal. It moved to Regnum Carya Golf Club from 2016 and was played at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal once again in 2019.

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Victor Dubuisson won the first event in 2013 by two shots from Jamie Donaldson.

In 2013 qualification was open to the top 50 in the world rankings, five tournament invitations, three Turkish players, with the remainder from the 2013 Race to Dubai making up a field of 78. Following the Turkish Airlines Open the leading 60 players in the Race to Dubai qualified for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai provided they had participated in two of the first three tournaments of the Final Series and played in enough 2013 DP World Tour events.

In 2014 qualification was open to the top 60 in the world rankings, four tournament invitations, three Turkish players invited by the Turkish Golf Federation, with the remainder from the 2014 Race to Dubai making up a field of 78. And again, following the event  the leading 60 players in the Race to Dubai qualified for the DP World Tour Championship. In 2016, qualification criteria were revised. The field consisted of the top 70 players from the Race to Dubai, three Turkish players, and five tournament invitations.

In 2015, the tournament was brought forward to the start of the Final Series. Jaco van Zyl carded an opening round of 61 that would have broken the course record if preferred lies had not been in operation. The South African shared the lead with Dubuisson going into the final round but the Frenchman birdied three of his last four holes on the way to a 66 that secured him his second win in Turkey.

The 2025 tournament will be the start of the 2025 European Swing which features six key tournaments across several countries and interspersed with two Majors.  This will be the fourth of five Global Swings in the initial phase of the 2025 Race to Dubai.  Kicking off with the DP World Tour's return to Türkiye, the European Swing will journey through Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany. The champion of the Swing will gain automatic entry into all Back 9 events—the second phase of the 2025 Race to Dubai—and will also receive a US$200,000 bonus.

Luke Donald is also set to make a highly anticipated return to the event. The European Ryder Cup Captain will be marking his first appearance in the tournament since 2014.  The former World Number One, Donald will headline an international field. His return to the Turkish Airlines Open comes as he prepares to lead Team Europe against the United States in the Ryder Cup this September, following their memorable victory in Rome two years ago.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Tournament winners:

This is the first time it has been played since 2019, when it was won by Tyrrell Hatton. Previous winners include Justin Rose in 2018 and 2017, Thorbjorn Olesen in 2016, Brooks Koepka in 2014, and Victor Dubuisson in 2013.

The course:

Carya is a par 72 measuring 7,220 yards, It is a tree-lined course with tight fairways and a lot of punishing bunkers so accurate driving is a must to score well.

Form guide:

Spanish golfer Eugenio Chacarra has already won the Indian Open and finished tied fourth at the China Open after a poor final round. He and South Africa’s Jacques Kruyswijk are the form horses this week.

Prize money:

Total prize money is $2.7m, with 3,500 Race to Dubai points and 1,000 Ryder Cup points on offer to the winner.

How to watch:

Thursday, May 8, Friday, May 9, Sky Sports Golf, 11am; Saturday, May 10, 11.30am; Sunday, May 11, 11am

Top Picks & Tips:

To win:

Johannes Veerman. Back in the winner’s circle

Each way:

Jacques Kruyswijk. Beautiful golf swing

Each way:

Jordan Smith.

Five to follow:

Johannes Veerman. Exciting American

Jacques Kruyswijk. Walking on air

Jordan Smith. Can never be ignored

John Parry. Can he continue his dream start to 2025?

Ewen Ferguson. Glorious ball striker

Five outsiders to watch:

Luke Donald. Remains a class act

Lucas Bjerregaard. Looking for a way back

Ugo Coussaud. Could become a winner - and soon

Brandon Robinson Thompson. Showed some sparkling early-season form

Justin Harding. Finally recovered from injury