Former Ryder Cup hero Chris Wood showed he’s still got plenty left in the tank after storming into the lead at the MENA Golf Tour Q School with a classy six-under-par 66 on the opening day at Troia Golf Course.
The three-time DP World Tour winner rolled back the years with a composed, confident display around the demanding Robert Trent Jones Sr. layout, as the 54-hole qualifier got underway to determine MENA Golf Tour membership and category status for the 2025–26 season.
Wood, who represented Europe at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, made a steady start before turning on the style down the stretch. After birdies at the par-four fifth and par-five seventh for an outward 34, the Englishman shifted gears on the back nine, picking up further shots on the 10th, 13th and 14th.
His only blemish came at the par-four 15th — and even that needed a bit of Portuguese mud to derail him.
“I was about 10 feet from the pin but off the green with a load of mud on the ball and couldn’t clean it,” Wood explained. “That led to a three-putt. Apart from that, I didn’t really look like dropping a shot. I played pretty solid.”
He responded in style, bouncing straight back with birdies at 17 and 18 to sign for a flawless-looking 66 and a four-shot lead.
For Wood, Q School is about more than just a scorecard — it’s another step back towards regular competitive golf.
“I’m putting myself in environments where I’m pushing myself again,” he said. “There are certain things I want to achieve on a golf course these days. The score is nice, but I’m more pleased with how I’m going about it.”
He also admitted his mind-set on the course has changed.
“Woody two years ago would have played this course very differently,” he added. “I’m brave enough now to take more shots on. I’ve been doing so many good things — I just need competitive golf — and that’s what the MENA Golf Tour is offering me.”
Chasing pack forming behind
Germany’s Max Schmitt, England’s Will Marshall and Andorra’s Kevin Esteve share second place on two-under-par, while Nicolas Calvet (France), Sebastian Sandin (Scotland), Jack Madden (Ireland) and Silvester Tan (Australia) sit at level par as a tightly bunched international field fights for category positions.
With two rounds still to play, the pressure is building as the top finishers look to secure their place on a Tour that has previously launched the careers of Major champion Matthew Fitzpatrick, DP World Tour stars Robert MacIntyre and Thriston Lawrence, and several other global winners.
From Q School straight into a new season
Once Q School wraps up, the relaunched MENA Golf Tour regular season begins immediately in Portugal, with:
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PGA Aroeira Challenge – 25–27 November
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Rolear Algarve Classic, Amendoeira – 2–4 December
All regular season events will offer guaranteed, tax-free $100,000 prize funds, with payments initiated within 48 hours — reinforcing the Tour’s commitment to professionalism and player support.
Round two tees off at 8:00am on Friday.
