Breakthroughs and Dreams on the NEXT Tour

The NEXT Golf Tour World Series began with 302 qualifying players battling on Trackman simulators around the world. Significant purses and season-changing exemptions were up for grabs. The top 100 at the end of three World Series events automatically qualified for the Tour Championship — a no entry fee tournament with a $250,000 purse and a $40,000 winner's check — where the season-long champion earned a start on the DP World Tour and six HotelPlanner Tour exemptions. With low costs and minimal barriers to entry at the start of the season, nearly anyone had a chance. And at the NEXT Tour Championship played virtually at Jumeirah Golf Course, an underdog seized the moment.

A.J. Covotta played Division II college golf at Southern New Hampshire University. In 2023, Cavotta — a teaching professional with dreams of playing professionally — was named the Northeast New York PGA Assistant Professional of the Year. The largest check he had ever earned as a pro was $3,000.

To prepare for NEXT Tour events, Cavotta showed up at 6 a.m. before work and stayed late afterward. The days were long, but the work paid off. Cavotta shot 62–63 in the Tour Championship and won $40,000.

“The final round was nerve-wracking for sure,” Cavotta said. “I took a break between the first and second rounds. It was kind of a career decision, knowing I was near the lead. I felt like it was better to sit down and really feel the weight of the situation.”

In the final round, Cavotta arrived at the island-green 17th hole at 8-under for the day, 18-under for the tournament, and tied for the lead with the Czech Republic’s Simon Zach. Zach, a HotelPlanner Tour member last season, had opened with three birdies and an eagle and posted a scorching 62.

“I feel like to shoot six, seven or eight under, you need to play really good golf,” Zach said. “If you want to shoot 10-under, you need some luck on your side, and I had that today.”

When Zach posted the clubhouse lead, he positioned himself to win the Order of Merit — and with it, the DP World Tour start and HotelPlanner exemptions. The winner’s check, however, was still in Cavotta’s hands.

On the penultimate hole, Cavotta chose a 6-iron and aimed for the middle of the green. A bold swing left him with 24 feet for birdie.

“I felt like I was burning edges all day,” Cavotta said. “I finally got one to go in—and you can see I was pretty excited.”

When the putt dropped, Cavotta pumped his fist and let out an emphatic roar. One hole remained: the 620-yard par-5 18th.

Trying to avoid a creek that cut through the fairway, Cavotta pushed his layup into the trees near the out-of-bounds line. He punched his next shot toward the green, but it ran through into rough, leaving a delicate 24-yard pitch. It was the exact kind of shot he’d been struggling with.

Of course it comes down to this, he thought. The golf gods have a sense of humor.

Cavotta made a smooth lob swing. The ball landed softly, rolled forward, and settled inside tap-in range. In the biggest moment of his career, he delivered.

Cavotta called the victory “huge” for his career. He plans to use part of the prize money to pursue qualifying opportunities, beginning with Americas Tour Q School in March.

LPGA player and NEXT Tour winner Mohan Du captured the women’s Order of Merit, which came with Epson Tour starts. Because she will focus on the LPGA Tour, those exemptions will go to runner-up Matilda Cederhold of Sweden. Cederhold finished T-33 and T-25 in two World Series events before the Tour Championship.

"I still can't really believe it," Cederhold says. "Teeing it up in these professional events is going to mean so much as a professional golfer. Just playing against some of the best in the U.S. and seeing how I compare will be amazing. Playing on the NEXT Golf Tour has meant so much to me."

Cederhold's countryman Oliver Lillidahl entered the Tour Championship leading the Order of Merit after winning the third World Series event. He posted rounds of 66–66 to finish runner-up and earned a spot in next season’s LIV Golf Promotions event.

But Zach held on to win the season-long title — a result that came at a crucial time. He had been injured before the second stage of DP World Tour Q School and lost his HotelPlanner Tour status. With his wife pregnant with their first child, winning nearly $70,000 and securing new opportunities changed everything.

“I am the NEXT Golf Tour Champion,” Zach said, smiling. “It is amazing. The opportunity to play on the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour — I couldn’t ask for more.”

On the NEXT Golf Tour, dreams that once felt distant suddenly feel possible.