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 up is Richard Mair.

He is the most decorated co-sanctioned player on Tour with three wins. It’s hard to say any player co-sanctioned or not is as steady as Richard.

His game is built on control and rhythm and with a bit of confidence behind him he can beat anyone on his day.

He’s played 2 Order of Merit seasons and posted a 6th and 2nd place finish overall. He’s never finished outside the Top 10 and posted 6 top 5’s in 11 appearances, a great return on anyone’s books.

Mair best event by a long stretch is the MCM lifting it at Aberdour and Pitffirane closely followed by the Lochgelly-Forrester Open where’s finished first and second in 2 appearances.

Mair’s worst events are Kinghorn and Canmore where h’s averaged a 6th place finish, closely followed by Burntisland with a 5th place finish. His debut at St Andrews in 2024 was a disappointing 8th, in incredibly tough conditions, so he’ll want to improve on that in 2025.

So what’s Mair’s chances in 2025?

I think Mair, and many onlookers have him earmarked as a Major winner very soon. It is hard to imagine he goes many more Majors without lifting one.

But the James Braid Quaich is a very specific Major that requires season long dedication to your game and consistency. Mair has the tools to win it all, he’s shown that three times already, but with the announcement of McColgan not playing 2 events this year the pressure will be on his shoulders to step up and deliver.

Can he win it all – 100% yes, will he win it – we’ll need to wait and see.

I have Mair finishing 3rd in 2025, behind co-sanctioned partner Daniel Peck.