The DP World Tour, in partnership with the PGA Tour, announced that players who finish outside the top 125 following this fall’s FedEx Cup series will now have the option to play on the European tour.
The European tour will hand out full memberships to PGA Tour players who finish between Nos. 126 and 200 this year. It comes with some fine print, though: Despite offering up to 75 tour cards, only five (5) will be exempt on any given week. Players who want to accept the European tour’s offer will have to join by Dec. 20.
The PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall series was set up to determine the top 125 for 2024. Players who finished inside the top 70 following the Tour Championship secured their full playing privileges for 2024. Those who finished outside the top 70 will compete in the seven-event Fall series, hoping to secure one of the 55 cards remaining (Nos. 71-125).
Players who finish inside the top 150 receive what’s called Conditional PGA Tour Status and will have to play in weaker-field events, including Korn Ferry Tour tournaments, and or rely on sponsor exemptions.
There are currently three tournaments remaining (Mexico, Bermuda and Sea Island). Familiar names currently outside the top 125 include Cameron Champ, Jimmy Walker, Harry Higgs, Patton Kizzire, Charley Hoffman, and Russell Knox, among others.
Ironically, as part of a “strategic alliance,” the PGA Tour will provide tour cards to the top 10 players from the European tour, who are not already exempt for 2024 season. Critics argue that the European tour is becoming the “minor league affiliate for the PGA Tour” while limiting opportunities for younger players on both the PGAT’s Korn Ferry Tour and European Challenge Tour.
“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,” said European tour CEO Keith Pelley. “I am excited at the possibilities.”
The European tour has three events remaining in its 2023 season: Qatar Masters, Nedbank Challenge in South Africa and the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The leading players on the points list currently include Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox, Min Woo Lee, Robert MacIntyre and Thorbjorn Olesen.
