Lee lands maiden DP World Tour title at Genesis Championship
Home favourite holds nerve in style to claim breakthrough victory and seal 2027 exemption
Dubai, UAE - Junghwan Lee produced a brilliant final-round surge to capture his first DP World Tour title at the Genesis Championship in Cheonan, Korea.
The 34-year-old fired a closing seven-under-par 64 at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club to win by two strokes from Laurie Canter of England and Spain’s Nacho Elvira.
Starting the day four behind overnight leaders Elvira and Mikael Lindberg, Lee stumbled early with a bogey at the second before roaring back with five consecutive birdies from the third to make the turn in 31.
He gained further ground with birdies at the 10th and 14th to move into the outright lead after Elvira dropped a shot at the 11th. A closing birdie at the last secured victory on 11 under par, while Elvira’s late bogeys at the 17th and 18th dashed his hopes.
“I feel like I’m in a dream, I still can’t believe I won,” said Lee. “On 12 I thought I was done, but I managed to save that ball — that’s when I felt the gods were looking down on me. I really wanted to play on the DP World Tour and now I have this amazing opportunity. To be in Abu Dhabi soon, playing alongside the players I’ve watched on TV, it feels unreal.”
Canter finished strongly with an eagle at the 18th to tie Elvira for second on eight under, climbing to ninth in the Race to Dubai Rankings and keeping his hopes of dual PGA TOUR membership alive for 2026.
The final day also brought drama for those fighting to keep their cards. Sweden’s Niklas Lemke held on to the final qualifying place in 115th, while Jordan Gumberg of the United States secured his Tour status spectacularly by holing out from 70 yards for an eagle at the 18th to move from 127th to 110th.
Lee’s victory not only earns him a three-year exemption on the DP World Tour but also a place in the upcoming Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the opening event of the Play-Offs — a fitting reward for perseverance, patience and a dream finally realised.