A look at pathway access onto the DP World Tour.
The 2026 DP World Tour schedule features 42 tournaments in 26 countries and across five continents.
With players from 35 different countries exempt on the DP World Tour in 2026, the pathway system is important in defining clear routes to reach the highest levels of the men’s professional game.
Here’s a look at the different pathways in effect where players have gained playing rights for the 2026 season:
· The top 20 players from the final HotelPlanner Tour’s Road to Mallorca Rankings, including players who win three HotelPlanner Tour titles in the 2025 season
· Spots for the leading player not otherwise exempt from the nominated final Order of Merit from a number of our Strategic alliance Tours i.e. PGA TOUR of Australia, Sunshine Tour, China Golf Association, Korea Professional Golf Association, Japan Golf Tour Organisation and Professional Golf Tour of India
· The leading available player eligible under the Global Amateur Pathway regulations to a floor of the top 20 WAGR as of October 12 2025
The Qualifying School offers the following exemptions to compete on the DP World Tour:
The top 20 players and ties players at Final Stage are eligible for DP World Tour Cat 18 + HotelPlanner Tour Cat 5
Players making the cut at Final Stage but finishing below 20th position and ties and within 41st position are eligible for DP World Tour Cat 20 + HotelPlanner Tour Cat 9
The players who miss the cut at Final Stage are eligible for HotelPlanner Tour Cat 15
The following categories will have a conditional card with access defined by the number of entries above them and as such are also granted dual membership of the HotelPlanner Tour to provide access in those weeks when they do not get to play on the DP World Tour.
· The top 20 and ties from the 2025 DPWT Qualifying School Final Stage
· The next two players (behind the leading player) from some of our Strategic alliance partners’ orders of merits i.e. PGA TOUR of Australia, Sunshine Tour, Korea Professional Golf Association, Japan Golf Tour Organisation
Ahead of the 2026 season, changes designed to provide greater schedule certainty and more balanced playing opportunities for all players who earn a DP World Tour card through any of the existing pathways were announced. They include:
• The cut-off to retain a full card through the 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings (for the 2027 season) will be reduced from the top 110 to the top 100.
• All players listed on the Race to Dubai and/or Road to Mallorca Rankings will count when defining the categories for the following season. No players will be treated in addition. (Exception: Ranked Amateurs and Associate Members will continue to be treated in addition on the Road to Mallorca Rankings.)
• Players finishing in positions 101–110 on the 2026 Race to Dubai Rankings will be eligible for Category 18 (conditional card) and will be initially ranked below the Qualifying School graduates (for the 2027 season). They will be re-ranked during the season alongside the Qualifying School graduates.
• The number of cards available to top finishers on the HotelPlanner Tour will be reduced from 20 to 15.
• Players finishing in positions 16-20 on the 2026 Road to Mallorca Rankings will be eligible for Category 19, immediately below players finishing in positions 111-125 on the Race to Dubai Rankings.
• The DP World Tour cards available at the 2026 Qualifying School will be reduced from the top 20 and ties to the top 15 and ties.
• The leading players from six international tours will continue to be eligible for Category 17. The next two leading available players from each of PGA Tour of Australasia, Sunshine Tour, Japan Golf Tour, and Korean Golf Tour will be eligible for a full HotelPlanner Tour card.
