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.

Next man up is 2024 Q-School graduate Greig Baxter.

Baxter joined the Tour in 2017 and has lifted two accolades in his time on Tour, the inaugural Anstruther Medal in 2021 but more importantly the 2019 EuroDov Cup in Cascais. He’s a seasoned competition golfer who knows how to handle himself around a course. In the Order of Merit he has considerable knowledge of Kinghorn, Burntisland and Canmore golf courses where he played his off-Tour golf for a number of years.

Now close observers of the Tour will remember Greig Baxter played in the 2022 Order of Merit season, however he only made 2 appearances, and the juxtaposition they provide is no help here as Baxter recorded a runners-up performance at the St Andrews Open and an 11th place finish at Canmore.

So, let’s go fishing elsewhere for some clues. Baxter played a full season on Q-School only missing the Kinghorn Classic. His efforts in Q-School saw him finish runner-up to Scott Gowens and earn the final promotion spot to the Order of Merit.

However, if we look at Baxter’s performances, which were played on the same day and on the same course as his Order of Merit compatriots we can begin to develop a bit of a comparison.

Baxter would have kicked off the season at St Andrews with a very respectable 6th place finish, he’d have followed this with a top half finish with an 8th place at the MCM. It was a disappointing day at an old stomping ground at the Dodhead as he would have slumped to 12th, but crucial still picking up points.

Heading on to Canmore, another familiar course for Baxter he’d have delivered a 2nd place finish and wrapped up the season with a 9th place at Lochgelly.

Now if we convert that into points, he’d have amassed 2300 points which would have sent him to the Tour Championships in 11th place overall in the standings and 1050 points off the relegation spots.

Let’s take a look at where EuroDov Reporter is putting Greig Baxter in his predictions for 2025.

Despite Baxter gaining promotion as the runner-up in Q-School, I do think he’ll place as the higher of the two graduates.

Looking at his performances from 2024 it is clear he can mix it with the Order of Merit field, and I think he’ll relish playing more frequently with those players.

Baxter is comfortable in any grouping and his game speaks for itself, when he’s on, there aren’t many players out there that can go toe to toe with him.

Looking at the entire field and considering where Baxter might land is challenging given his lack of game time in the Order of Merit, but when all is said and done, EuroDov Reporter thinks Baxter will find himself comfortable mid-table for his first full year in the Order of Merit.

Now will it be the top half or the bottom half of mid-table, well EuroDov Reporter is going to pin Baxter to 8th spot with a top half finish in 2025.