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 Scott Gowens.

The unlikely winner of the 2024 Q-School Scott Gowens is in the Order of Merit in 2025 all off his own back. He played fantastic golf in 2024 to lift the Q-School plate and he needs to look at those performances and understand he belongs in the OoM.

Look at the Carnegie Cup qualification points, earned over the OOM/Q-School events, he goes into the final event of the year sitting 5th overall, that tells you everything you need to know.

However that being said, the Order of Merit is a bigger pool, with bigger fish. He knows many of the guys out there but hasn’t stood toe to toe with them in the heat of battle. The course can be a lonely place when you’re not on your game and Gowen’s junior will need to dig deep throughout the season.

So, what does 2025 look like?

Well, he makes his debut at St Andrews, and it won’t just be his first shot on the OoM but the Eden course too.

Patience will be key for him in 2025, he’ll collect points for sure, but getting in to the rhythm of the OoM, understanding the ebb and flow and he’ll be grand.

It’s hard not to see Scott fighting it out at the bottom end of the rankings, I think his ceiling for 2025 is going to be around 10th but realistically I see him in a bit of a relegation dog fight, but retaining his OoM status with a 14th place finish.