The winners and losers from the DP World Tour’s regular season finale

One of the most absorbing, yet gut-wrenching days in the golfing calendar played out on Sunday.

The Qatar Masters, the final event of the regular DP World Tour season, was the last counting event for players to finish inside the top 116 in the Race to Dubai rankings and secure their card for 2024.

There was elation, despair, relief and disappoint in Doha, so we’ve broken down the winners and losers from an agonising week…

WINNERS

Sami Valimaki

The winner. Finland’s Valimaki was not worrying about holding onto his tour card this week like many of his peers in the field, but was inspired on the back-nine as he hunted down the Spaniard Jorge Campillo to win the title.

• Nordvqvist pays emotional tribute to late husband Kevin McAlpine

• Sir Nick Faldo takes another swipe at LIV Golf

Valimaki finished -18 alongside Campillo, then holed a nerveless birdie putt on the first play-off hole to claim his second victory on the European circuit.

“Unbelievable. It’s hard to talk. It’s been a long journey and it feels great,” the emotional Valimaki said.

Scott Jamieson

Jamieson’s status as a DP World Tour player was at serious risk in Qatar, but the Florida-based Scot delivered under the most intense pressure to cling onto his card. He did more than enough, too, after setting the tone with an opening 65 on Thursday. His five-under back-nine on Sunday lifted him up to a tie for third, and 82nd overall in the season-long standings to ensure he will be playing on the DP World Tour for a 14th consecutive season.

Ross Fisher

Like Jamieson, the European Tour veteran and former Ryder Cup player had to dig deep this week. Fisher claimed the 116th and last spot to keep his card after holding his nerve with a T36 finish at Doha Golf Club. “So pleased with how I played this week under the pressure,” the Englishman said afterwards.

A fascinating interview with @RossFisher as he takes the 116th and final Tour card spot for next season 💪#CBQMasters pic.twitter.com/wKwxtcMx6r

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 29, 2023

Mike Lorenzo-Vera

Relief had to be the overriding emotion for the feisty Frenchman Lorenzo-Vera after he took the 113th spot in the standings. He missed the cut in Qatar and would have been fearing the worst in the Middle East over the weekend. But he managed to cling on, just about, and can now look ahead to 2024 and a clean slate.

• Major bosses shut down talk of LIV exemptions 

• Lorenzo-Vera launches rant at golf fan

LOSERS

Alex Levy

There is always at least one excruciating near miss when the Race to Dubai reaches its cut off and Alex Levy, who has been returning from a long-term injury, proved the most brutal watch this year. Levy started the week in 124th with his fate still in his hands, but missed the cut by a single stroke to lose his card. To make things worse, the five-time DP World Tour winner even lipped out for a birdie on 18 on Friday to keep his dream alive over the weekend.

"I will go to Q School, for sure. I will give everything I have!"

Five-time winner on Tour, @alexlevygolf has the mentality to fight for his card 💪#CBQMasters pic.twitter.com/vqy1zTbFts

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 28, 2023

Levy is already determined to make his way back, though. “I will go to Q School, for sure,” he said. “I will give everything I have.”

Marc Warren

Warren had started the week in 117th place, but unlike his good friend Jamieson, fell backwards and his status as a DP World Tour player is, for now at least, over. Rounds of 70 and 73 meant he missed the cut in Doha, meaning he too will have to go through Q School or find somewhere else to play his golf next season.

Daniel Van Tonder

The South African Daniel Van Tonder took the most painful position in the Race to Dubai rankings, finishing in 117th place. He did at least make the cut to give himself a chance, but the 32-year-old’s five-under total was only good enough for a tie for 47th, meaning the eight-time Sunshine Tour winner finished just behind Fisher in the season-long standings.

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.