DP World Tour to hand lifeline to PGA Tour players

The DP World Tour has announced new playing opportunities that would allow PGA Tour stars to become full members of the circuit in 2024.

As part of the Strategic Alliance between the two bodies, players who fail to secure their card during the Fall Series will get the chance to move tour.

Players who finish in positions 126 to 200 on the 2022-2023 FedEx Cup Fall Points List will gain full membership for the DP World Tour.

PGA Tour members who opt to take up full membership will play from a newly created Category 12 in the 2024 DP World Tour Exemption Category list.

However, it means that only five players in that category will be able to compete on the DP World Tour in any given week.

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David Howell, Chairman of the DP World Tour’s Tournament Committee, explained why the initiative is progressing the future of the circuit.

“When we announced our Strategic Alliance with the PGA Tour in November 2021, one of the prime objectives was to give as many opportunities as possible to members of both Tours, and this is another perfect example of how this is working,” he said.

Affiliate membership for the DP World Tour will also be available to any other PGA Tour member who competes in a Race to Dubai tournament next year.

From there, players can earn full ranked membership in the following season, should they qualify.

Players in that category, or non-members, will appear on a new ‘Non-member Race to Dubai points list, following the first event where they earn points.

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Those points offer the chance to qualify for the DP World Tour play-offs in 2024 and the season-ending Bonus Pool, if they have played four or more counting tournaments outside the Majors.

The new plans follow last year’s ‘Ten Cards’ initiative, which was introduced ahead of the 2023 season.

That will see the leading ten players on the 2023 Race to Dubai (not otherwise exempt) earn PGA Tour cards for the 2024 season.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said he was ‘excited for the possibilities’.

He added: “Our Ten Cards initiative will give the opportunity for DP World Tour members to excel on the PGA Tour next season and this new membership opportunity announced today will give PGA Tour members the chance to do exactly the same on our Tour.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.