Jayden Schaper won. 

And Ryan Gerard got what he came for. 

More than one pro left satisfied, then, upon exiting the island country of Mauritius, located off the eastern coast of Africa, which gives us an interesting ending to the 2025 golf year. Let’s start with Schaper, or winner No. 1. His finish was good.

Last week, the 24-year-old from South Africa 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 victories — behind another playoff eagle, this one on a hole-out from about 50 yards short of the green on the par-5 18th hole at Heritage La Réserve 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 golfers in the world. 

“I don’t even know what to say,” Schaper told the DP World Tour. “That’s just such an insane way to finish a tournament. It’s been such a great week, such an awesome place, the support, the golf course. From start to finish. I could not have asked for anything better. 

“Christmas is going to be good this year, and New Year. It’s just unreal. I wait five years for the first [title] and then the following week [to get the second] is so cool.”

Then there’s Gerard, or winner No. 2.

The 26-year-old pro from North Carolina had started the week at No. 57 in the Official World Golf Ranking — and the top 50 at year’s end receive invites into the 2026 Masters. So Gerard entered the Mauritius Open, flew 10,000 miles to the island and hoped that he’d finish in a two-way tie for fourth or better, which would move him into the top 50. (The tireless Ryan French of the Monday Q Info website first reported Gerard’s plan, and you can read French’s story here.) 

Only Gerard did better than what was needed. 

He almost won the thing. 

After rounds of 68, 69 and 63, Gerard found himself a stroke back of Schaper on the 72nd hole, then dropped his ball to 5 feet after a shot from a greenside bunker. From there, he birdied, moved on to the playoff with Schaper — and officially secured his first start at Augusta National.

“I had a pretty good year this year and unfortunately didn’t finish great,” he said after Friday’s second round. “But the kind people at the OWGR kind of sent me some end-of-year projections that have me just outside the top 50. 

“I figured if I have 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 get in to the Masters, so that’s kind of a special kick in the pants to come 10,000 miles from Florida and tee it up. It wasn’t on the bingo card at the beginning of the season, for sure, but excited to be here. It’s a really cool place. Hopefully two more solid rounds and it’ll be a nice trip that was worth it.”

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