The Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo marks the start of the Back 9, which brings the DP World Tour to nine of the most iconic events on the schedule with plenty at stake for those competing.
The Back 9: The start of a new Swing
This week sees the start of Phase Two of the DP World Tour season - the Back 9 - made up of nine of the most historic and storied events on Tour.
The run of nine consecutive weeks begins at The Belfry with the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, before the Tour contests two of Europe’s most prestigious national opens: the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre and the Amgen Irish Open at Trump International, Doonbeg.
The Rolex Series then returns for the BMW PGA Championship before the FedEx Open de France at Le Golf National and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Home of Golf. The 16th and final national open of the season follows with the Open de España presented by Madrid at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, before the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club marks the penultimate event of the Swing. The Back 9 then comes to a dramatic conclusion at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club with the Genesis Championship.
With Ryder Cup qualification getting under way, a Rolex Series event, four national opens, a celebration of links golf and two modern classics, there is more to play for than just hallowed silverware.
Places in the Play-Offs and playing privileges for 2027 will be decided, while huge steps could be made in discovering who wins the Harry Vardon Trophy, the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award and the Seve Ballesteros Award.
Ryder Cup Qualification Process begins
The qualification process for the 2027 European Ryder Cup team will begin this week.
Eligible DP World Tour members will be able earn Ryder Cup points across a year-long qualification process which will end on Sunday August 22, 2027, inclusive of both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR events that week. These events will be confirmed when both Tours announce their 2027 schedules later this year.
The leading six players from the Ryder Cup Points list at the conclusion of the process will earn automatic qualification for Team Europe. Captain Luke Donald will then complete his 12-man team by selecting a further six ‘Captain’s Picks’ in the week commencing Monday August 30, 2027.
Inside the field
With the beginning of an important stretch on the 2026 Race to Dubai, an impressive field makes its way to The Belfry.
Seven of the past nine British Masters champions tee it up this week, including three consecutive winners at The Belfry: Thorbjørn Olesen, Daniel Hillier and Niklas Nørgaard, who lifted the title in 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively. They are joined by fellow past champions Renato Paratore, Marcus Kinhult, Eddie Pepperell and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, adding further tournament pedigree to the field.
Current form is well represented too, with 16 players who have already won on the DP World Tour this season set to compete. That group includes Jeff Winther and Scott Jamieson, winners in each of the last two weeks, as well as multiple winner and Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed, who makes his event debut after finishing tied 30th at last week’s Nexo Championship.
There is also a strong home interest, with Donald in action as Ryder Cup qualification gets under way. Tyrrell Hatton, Danny Willett, Andy Sullivan, Ross Fisher, Paul Waring and Matt Wallace help form a sizeable English contingent teeing it up in front of home fans.
Faldo hosts in 50th year since turning professional
Sir Nick Faldo is celebrating a lot of significant milestones in 2026. At this year's event, Sir Nick marks his 50th year since turning pro by hosting his fourth consecutive Husqvarna British Masters at The Belfry,
As well as the 30th anniversary of his third Masters win in 1996, Faldo also marks 30 years of The Faldo Series, a global junior golf series which has three distinct tours: Faldo Futures, Faldo Junior Series, and Faldo Elite Tour.
Sir Nick is as ambitious as ever about continuing to grow the Series that has developed over the past three decades, which has alumni that includes Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett, Nick Dougherty, Charley Hull, Yani Tseng and numerous others.
This week, organised by the team behind the Faldo Series, 130 children - aged 7–12 - will participate in the Faldo Futures Final at The Belfry across Wednesday and Thursday.
“I’m delighted we got to 30 years," Sir Nick told the DP World Tour.
“Obviously we have our grand final here, and the goal is just to keep expanding. That’s always been the goal of the Series, is just to give the kids an opportunity, give them opportunity and experiences.”
The future of golf starts with experiences like these. ⛳
— Faldo Series (@FaldoSeries) July 21, 2026
From world-class short game tips and bunker demonstrations to plenty of smiles and unforgettable moments, the Skill Zone at Royal Birkdale gave some of our Faldo Futures an experience they’ll never forget.
It was a… pic.twitter.com/aFlDaKT2kV
Making an impact on and off the course
As part of the European Tour group’s commitment to sustainability, a variety of initiatives have been organised to take place during championship week.
In an initiative arranged in collaboration with The Belfry, the DP World Tour will make a £100 donation to the host venue for every green driven on the tenth hole at the Brabazon Course. This support to diversify and drive The Belfry’s biodiversity projects onsite links directly to the European Tour group's work related to the Sports for Nature framework, as the Tour continues to support and work with its championship venues. Also, and separately, the player who is nearest the pin with their tee shot across the tournament will receive a mower from title partner Husqvarna.
Fans are being invited to donate any used golf equipment which will then be sent to Ukraine for their Military Vets Rehabilitation Programme - You Can. Last year, 144 golf clubs were donated, five golf trolleys, 1,050 used golf balls, along with a significant amount of both used and new golf clothing.
Attendees are also encouraged to uncover and learn about the nature found at The Belfry via a nature trail, with ten locations to discover.
Through the Careers in Golf Programme, behind-the-scenes tours will take place onsite at The Belfry on Thursday and Friday. Upwards of 30 children from local education establishments are expected to attend, providing them with an insight into the work carried out at a tournament on the DP World Tour.
On Friday, and new for 2026, a Golf 6s event specifically for girls will take place on the PGA National Course.
On Monday, a series of coaching clinics by EDGA took place with the aim of aiding progress among players with varying disabilities.
Through the Tour’s Green Drive initiative, we are working hard to reduce our own carbon footprint and achieve net zero carbon. To aid us in this effort, spectators who purchase tickets to DP World Tour tournaments are now given the option to add a voluntary £1 “Climate Emergency Fee” to their ticket price upon checkout. A standalone donation of £2.50 may also be made here.
