Michael Kim has had a closer look at both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour after spending part of 2025 playing in various events around the globe.
While most American PGA Tour players typically take an extended break following the FedEx Cup Playoffs in August, Kim chose to stay active, playing tournaments across different countries instead.
He picked up a win at the Open de France back in September and has also featured in recent events held in India, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
Following last week’s DP World Tour Championship, Kim took some time to share his thoughts on how the two tours compare, noting both their similarities and differences.
Michael Kim compares PGA Tour and DP World Tour courses
Kim, who has built a strong following on social media by sharing candid insights, used his latest post on X to compare the course styles on both tours. Having experienced layouts across several continents this year, he said a clear pattern emerged.
“I only played five ‘true’ DP events, but there’s definitely a difference in styles,” Kim explained. He noted that DP World Tour venues, spread across many countries, often reward accuracy over power. “Courses like the one I played in India are very unique… It’s not totally revolved around the driver.”
He contrasted that with the PGA Tour’s signature setups. “I think of Quail [Hollow] as a representation of a typical big PGA Tour course, but I didn’t see as much of that on DP.” Courses in France and India featured sharper doglegs — “position golf,” as he put it — while Abu Dhabi and Dubai felt more comparable to U.S.-style tracks.
Kim also remarked on green speeds, suggesting that American courses tend to run faster, especially at notoriously slick venues. “Green speeds on average feel a tiny bit slower [on DP],” he said. “I don’t think any courses have speeds like some in the US, where it gets stupid fast at 14+ stimp… places like Quail and The Players get crazy fast.”
Equipment access and facilities vary too
Beyond course design, Kim highlighted differences in tour infrastructure — particularly when it comes to equipment services. The PGA Tour, he said, holds a clear advantage because of its weekly access to full equipment trucks.
“I can make weekly adjustments if I want and… ask for something and it’ll be made that day,” Kim said. On the DP World Tour, while workshops and representatives are present each week, full equipment trucks are not.
“Again, the travel makes it really difficult,” he added. “A player can get whatever he needs, but probably needs to have it shipped somewhere, which can be delayed.”
Kim’s globe-trotting season has given him a firsthand look at how both tours operate — and his breakdown underscores just how varied life can be for players competing across different corners of the world.
