Nakajima wins first DP World Tour title then says what fans now come to expect
Keita Nakajima runs away with Hero Indian Open, then admits his goal is to join the PGA Tour in 2025.
Keita Nakajima sealed his maiden DP World Tour title with a commanding four-stroke victory at the Hero Indian Open, and then revealed his sole goal this season is to play his way onto the PGA Tour in 2025.
Nakajima, 23, stumbled home for a final-round 73 where he played the final five holes in 4-over par at DLF G&CC.
Thankfully for the Japanese star he was well clear at the top of the leaderboard on the back nine and so he could afford to fritter away shots en route to a comfortable four-stroke victory on 17-under par.
Nakajima was ranked No.1 in the World Golf Amateur Ranking for a record 87 weeks between 2020 and 2022.
That surpassed Jon Rahm's record of 60 weeks.
Nakajima now becomes the fifth Japanese winner in DP World Tour history after wrapping up his maiden win in just his 11th start on the circuit.
He now wants to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Ryo Hisatsune in reaching the PGA Tour by obtaining Dual Membership via the Race to Dubai Rankings this season.
Just like last season on the former European Tour circuit, there are 10 cards up for grabs for DP World Tour players who are not already exempt on the PGA Tour.
Fellow Japanese Rikuya Hoshino is lying second to Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai, but he is top in the race for PGA Tour cards.
Nakajima now vaults 77 spots to 13th in the Race to Dubai Rankings, and to seventh in the race for PGA Tour cards in 2025.
When pressed by Sky Sports Golf for his goals for the rest of the season, Nakajima got straight to the point.
Keita Nakajima in his winner’s speech after winning his maiden DP World Tour title:
“I want to try and top 10 on this tour and then go to the PGA Tour in 2025. That’s this years goal.”
It’s so sad that players just see the tour purely as a pathway now.
pic.twitter.com/fsk9Jle6bb— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) March 31, 2024
Nakajima said:
Flushing It tweeted:
One golf fan replied:
Another replied to that with:
Golf Lover UK tweeted:
CEO Keith Pelley bowed out of the DP World Tour this week to join MLSE in Canada.
He has been replaced by Guy Kinnings.
What do you make of the DP World Tour's decision to let all of their best stars join the PGA Tour each season? Has it always been like this, or is it just much more blatant in 2024? Share your thoughts over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
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