Now we are into 2025, thoughts begin to turn to the start of the new season in April and whilst the EuroDov Cup, the season opening event and Major, is the first event of the calendar year, for many the St Andrews Open and the start of the Order of Merit is the signal the season is here.

The Order of Merit enters its 5th year in 2025 and has matured and settled into the premier event of the EuroDov Tour calendar. In 2025 16 players will compete to win the James Braid Quaich, the field boasts five Major winners and nine players who have at least one Order of Merit event win to their name and with four prize money spots and two relegation places at play every player needs to be on form to contend.

EuroDov Reporter has taken time to sit down and look at each individual player and assess their prospects ahead of 2025. So, sit back, and enjoy their reviews.

Denis Duncan is the sixth player to go under the spotlight.

Duncan is one of the original seven players who played in the 2021 Order of Merit and has racked up 25 appearances.

Many onlookers will remember Duncan’s first year in the Order of Merit as he finished runner-up in 5 out of 7 of the events, won 1 and finished 5th in the other. It was a stellar year, with some great golf by Duncan and he would eventually finish 2nd over in the Order of Merit, still his best season long performance yet.

Whilst many, and probably Duncan himself, would reflect he hasn’t been able to find the same form in the OoM as he had in 2021 it would be a harsh reflection. Of the preceding 18 events he has played from 2022 to 2024 he has managed 9 top 5’s, that’s an impressive 50% of events he has managed to finish in the top 5.

It is reflected in his overall finishing spot where he’s recorded a 2nd place in 2021, 6th place in 2022, and 5th place in 2024. His 2023 standing was affected y not competing in the Tour Champs resulting in a 13th place finish.

Burntisland, home of the Dodhead Invitational and Lochgelly, home of the Lochgelly-Forrester Open, have been the least happy hunting grounds for Denis. He’s averaged an 8th place finish in both of these events which is far below is overall average of 5th. Conversely the MCM tournament has been one of his best with 2 runner-sup finishes and two 5th place finishes, he’s also faired well at Canmore and St Andrews.

Let’s look at EuroDov Reporters prediction for Denis’ 2025.

The truth about Den is many people discount him from the start, it’s true, but actually grossly unfair. His biggest critic is himself, and if golf is a game won and lost in the 6 inches between your ears, he’ll struggle to win.

Denis Duncan has the game to win on Tour, he did it in 2021 and he has all the ability to do it in 2025. The stats speak for themselves, there are only two players on Tour with a better average position per tournament than Den who boasts an average of 5th place per event.

When you break Den’s stats down further, he average’s a 4th place finish at St Andrews, Kinghorn, MCM, King’s Cup and the Tour Champs. What lets him down is the 8th place finishes at the Dodhead and Lochgelly-Forrester Open’s.

If Den can find away to reverse the recent run of results at these two events he could easily be pushing for the top of the standings. If we take Den’s averages, he’d be looking at something in the region of 6,400 points which would place him 3rd in 2021, 5th in 2022, 2nd in 2023, and 3rd in 2024.

Looking over all the factors and Den’s undeniable ability it would not be surprising to see him in the prize spots in 2025 but for now EuroDov Reporter places him 5th come the end of play in August.