Calum Hill, the newly-crowned Joburg Open champion, is basking in the glow of his second DP World Tour title triumph—but his family back in Scotland will have to wait a bit longer to celebrate. The 30-year-old golfer, who clinched a dramatic victory in Johannesburg, is staying in the sunshine for now, with a packed schedule that includes stops in Dubai, Singapore, India, and the United States before he heads home.
A Dramatic Victory in Johannesburg
Hill’s win at the Joburg Open was nothing short of spectacular. Starting the final round eight shots behind the leader, he carded a brilliant 62 at Houghton Golf Club before emerging victorious in a three-man playoff. “I can’t remember how the first DP World Tour win came about, to be honest, but this one was definitely a bit more unexpected,” Hill admitted. “I knew a good round would put me somewhere near the top, but I didn’t expect to win.”
The victory, worth £150,000, saw Hill jump from 286th to 160th in the Official World Golf Ranking and from 95th to 11th in the Race to Dubai Rankings. It was a remarkable turnaround for the Kirkcaldy-born golfer, who had missed three consecutive cuts before his triumph in Johannesburg.
Sunshine Plans and a Busy Schedule
Hill’s immediate plans involve staying in warmer climates. After his win, he flew to Dubai, where he is based for this week before heading to the Porsche Singapore Classic. From there, he’ll compete in the Hero Indian Open, followed by a two-week break in the United States with his wife, Miranda. After that, it’s off to China for back-to-back tournaments before a week of practice in Turkey ahead of the Turkish Open.
“I’ll head home to Scotland after that, and, by that time, fingers crossed it is semi-warm,” Hill said with a laugh. His family, including proud parents Debbie and Neil, will have to wait until mid-May to celebrate his victory on Scottish soil. “I am sure they will be trying to get out to watch me somewhere now!” he added.
PGA Tour Dreams
Hill’s sights are firmly set on securing one of the ten PGA Tour cards available through the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings. “That is definitely the main goal for this year,” he declared. “It will take a lot of consistently good golf, but getting myself into the top 15 in the Race to Dubai this early on is a nice position to be in.”
Hill, who is represented by Bounce Sport alongside fellow Scot Bob MacIntyre, has spent a significant amount of time in the United States, where his wife is from. His familiarity with the country and its golf courses could give him an edge as he pursues his PGA Tour dream.
A Rollercoaster Season
The Joburg Open win came after a mixed start to the 2025 season for Hill. He began with a promising top-20 finish at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic but followed it up with three consecutive missed cuts. “My game has been feeling good, but I had been playing poorly,” he admitted. “It’s a funny game, isn’t it? It comes and goes.”
Hill’s victory was fueled by a remarkable putting performance in the final round, a stark contrast to his struggles earlier in the week. “I think I was last in the putting stats after the first round,” he said. “Then in the final round, I holed everything I looked at.”
What’s Next for Calum Hill?
With his confidence restored and his game in good shape, Hill is ready to push forward in the Race to Dubai. His early-season success has put him in a strong position to chase one of the coveted PGA Tour cards, and he’s determined to make the most of the opportunity.
As for his equipment, Hill is leaning toward signing a contract with Titleist after testing out new clubs at the end of last season. “I’m excited about the possibilities,” he said.
For now, Hill is enjoying the sunshine and the momentum from his Joburg Open win. But when he finally returns to Scotland, there’s no doubt his family and fans will be ready to celebrate his latest triumph in style.
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Calum Hill Claims Dramatic Joburg Open Victory in Three-Way Playoff