The 2022 season was historic as the European Tour group commemorated 50 years since the first shot on Tour was hit at the 1972 Spanish Open.
But last season was also a campaign when even more history was made, as barriers were broken and ceilings were smashed across 21 countries and 43 events.
Here, we take a look at some of the ground-breaking moments and history-makers from the class of 2022.
DP World Tour era gets under way
The opening event of the season saw a new era begin in European golf as the European Tour became the DP World Tour. DP World and the European Tour group began a ground-breaking evolution to their long-term partnership, with DP World becoming the new title sponsor of the group’s main tour from the start of the season. Dean Burmester was the man to hit the first ever tee-shot at the Joburg Open as Thriston Lawrence became the first winner in the DP World Tour era. "A great partnership and what a great name, DP World Tour," said Burmester. "It's a world tour and what an honour to be able to hit that first tee shot."
Inaugural G4D Tour breaks new ground
The DP World Tour and European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) had already been staging events in partnership together but in 2022 that partnership evolved into the Golf for the Disabled (G4D) Tour. Kipp Popert won the first of the seven events at the G4D Tour @ Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett and went on to lift three more trophies across the season. Events were played in five different countries, with the campaign finishing at the G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship. That was the second G4D Tour event staged alongside a Rolex Series event, with the entire top ten in the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) teeing it up at the G4D Tour @ BMW PGA Championship.
Grant becomes first female winner
The ground-breaking Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed returned for its second edition in the mixed format and produced the DP World Tour’s first ever female winner – and in convincing style. Home favourite Linn Grant entered the final round with a two-shot lead but a closing 64 played out in front of enormous and vociferous crowds saw her get to 24 under and triumph by a remarkable nine shots. "I just hope that people recognise women's golf, more sponsors go to the LET and hopefully this pumps up the women's game a little bit more," she said. "It's a nice feeling. All week I just felt like it's the girls against the guys and whoever picks up that trophy represents the field."
Meronk makes history for Poland
Adrian Meronk has long been a trailblazer for his native country and at the Horizon Irish Open he wrote yet another chapter in the history books of Polish golf. In 2019, he became the first Polish player to win a European Tour group-operated event at the 57° Open de Portugal @ Morgado Golf Resort en route to graduating from the Challenge Tour and becoming the first Polish member of the DP World Tour. After an impressive first two seasons on Tour, he broke through at Mount Juliet Estate, picking up four shots in his last four holes to win by three as Poland had its first DP World Tour winner. "That's why we practise every day - such a relief and so happy," he said. "I'm going to keep going forward. It's another step for me. And I'm excited I achieved it here in Ireland, such a great history, and I'm just super excited. I can't describe it."
Schauffele wins in Scotland
The DP World Tour's partnership with the PGA TOUR broke new ground in the summer as the Genesis Scottish Open became the first ever event to be co-sanctioned between the two tours. The field at The Renaissance Club contained 14 of the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking and it was then World Number 11 and reigning Olympic Champion Xander Schauffele, fresh off victories at the Travelers Championship and JP McManus Pro-Am, who claimed his first Rolex Series win in North Berwick. "It's incredible," he said. "It's just an honour to win the first one."
