As the Widows Golf 2025 season heads into its final five rounds, every drive, chip, and putt now carries the weight of a trophy — or the threat of an apron. Three major honours hang in the balance: Champion Golfer of the Year (most wins), the Birdie King (most birdies), and the infamous Chief Apron Wearer (most losses).
The season concludes on 30th November, and after months of steady play, fluctuating form, and a few shocking collapses, the race to the wire couldn’t be tighter.
Champion Golfer of the Year – Six-Way Shootout for the Crown
For much of 2025, John Hopkins appeared untouchable. His steady play saw him dominate the first half of the season and build a commanding lead. But as autumn has arrived, his grip on the title has loosened — and the pack has closed in.
Now, it’s a full-scale dogfight. Six players share or are within touching distance of the lead.. However, his recent dip in form has invited others into the conversation.
Dave Hope, despite holding six wins, has endured a wildly inconsistent year — his 11 aprons show that he’s either been brilliant or brutal. If he can rediscover the former and cut out the collapses, he could yet mount an unlikely charge.
Keith Tyler and Paul Leech have both found excellent rhythm late in the season, each matching Hopkins with six victories and keeping themselves right in contention. Leech, in particular, has paired steady scoring with one of the season’s best birdie returns, making him a strong dual threat.
Then there’s Andy King, whose back-to-back wins have reignited his campaign and closed the gap to just one behind the leaders. However, a shot reduction in his Widows handicap could make things trickier for the closing stretch — will that blunt his winning edge, or can he adapt and power through?
Barry Humphrey rounds out the chasing group, sitting on five wins and just one apron fewer than King. He’s flown under the radar this year but has the experience and temperament to pounce if others stumble.
With six names realistically in the hunt and five rounds to go, the 2025 Champion Golfer of the Year title is truly up for grabs.
Birdie King – Andy Soars, but Paul’s in Pursuit
The Birdie King race has become a duel between two of the season’s standout performers: Andy King and Paul Leech.
King currently leads the count with 17 birdies, showcasing attacking intent and sharp short-game confidence. His aggressive approach has defined his season — but it comes at a cost, as shown by his six aprons.
Hot on his heels, Paul Leech sits just one behind on 16 birdies. Leech’s game is built around steadiness and precision rather than risk, and that contrast could play in his favour over the final weeks — particularly as King now faces the challenge of a tighter handicap.
Behind them, Mark Graves (9 birdies) and Keith Tyler (6) remain distant but capable of late flurries. Graves’ ability to rack up birdies without a single apron this year makes him one to watch — even if the overall title is out of reach, he’s quietly assembling one of the most solid all-around seasons in the field.
With only a single birdie separating the leaders and five rounds remaining, the Birdie King crown could come down to one magical Sunday.
Chief Apron Wearer – Hope’s Apron Avalanche
At the opposite end of the table, the not-so-coveted title of Chief Apron Wearer currently belongs — quite comfortably — to Dave Hope, whose 11 aprons mark a record-setting struggle. Hope has oscillated between triumph and turmoil — six wins but eleven aprons is a statistical rollercoaster that only golf could produce.
His dominance in this category looks unassailable. Brian Hamer, sitting on seven aprons, is the closest challenger, but even that feels like a distant second place. It would take a monumental collapse for anyone else to catch Hope now — a dubious but oddly impressive achievement in its own right.
For everyone else, the goal over the remaining rounds is simple: avoid the apron, finish with dignity, and steer well clear of the Chief’s dubious crown.
Five Rounds to Decide It All
With the final round set for 30th November, every category remains open:
Champion Golfer of the Year: Hopkins’ early dominance is gone. Six players are now in the mix — one hot streak could decide it.
Birdie King: Andy King leads narrowly, but his handicap change and Leech’s consistency could flip the race.
Chief Apron Wearer: Dave Hope leads by a mile — and that’s not a compliment.