Last week of the year for the European Tour. No more. Everything ends in Jumeirah. At the DP World Tour Championship starting on Thursday. The season closes and, therefore, it’s time to put the finishing touch on the goals. The job needs to be finished. Beyond the victory, which is crucial due to the tournament’s scale, the triumph in the Race to Dubai, the qualification for the PGA Tour or the Open Championship, as well as accessing the final Tour bonuses, Rookie of the Year or Best Graduate, are at stake. Quite something.
Here we do the math for the four Spaniards for each of the goals. None of them can win the Race to Dubai anymore, but we will tell you the highest position they could finish in. We will also tell you what they need for everything else.
ÁNGEL AYORA: Arrives at the Dubai Final in 23rd place.
– Win the Race to Dubai. He can’t. The highest position he could reach is 3rd.
– Race to Dubai Bonus. The top 10 in the ranking receive it at the end of the tournament. A total of six million dollars is distributed. The winner takes two million, and the tenth-placed receives 150,000. He would need to be tied 2nd with two others and 2nd alone to at least get into the tenth position.
– PGA Tour Card. The top 10 in the Race to Dubai who are not already part of the American circuit receive it. The tenth card would currently go to Jordan Smith (15th in the Race). At a minimum, to have any chance, he needs to finish tied 4th with one. He would practically secure it with a 3rd alone.
– The Open Championship. The top 25 in the Race to Dubai qualify for the 2026 edition. Thriston Lawrence holds that position. Ayora is in and must defend his position. No more than three players can surpass him.
– Graduate of the Year. Awarded to the best player in the Race to Dubai from the previous year’s HotelPlanner Tour. Currently, it’s Kristoffer Reitan. He would need to finish tied 2nd with two to have a minimal chance and 2nd alone to have many options.
– Rookie of the Year. He has it tough against Marco Penge. He could only contest it with a victory in the Final.
EUGENIO CHACARRA. Arrives at the Final in 35th place.
– Win the Race to Dubai. He can’t. The highest position he could reach is 3rd.
– Race to Dubai Bonus. The top 10 in the ranking receive it at the end of the tournament. A total of six million dollars is distributed. The winner takes two million, and the tenth-placed receives 150,000. He would need to be 2nd alone to at least get into the tenth position.
– PGA Tour Card. The top 10 in the Race to Dubai who are not already part of the American circuit receive it. The tenth card would currently go to Jordan Smith (15th in the Race). At a minimum, to have any chance, he needs to finish tied 2nd with two. He would practically secure it with a 2nd alone.
– The Open Championship. The top 25 in the Race to Dubai qualify for the 2026 edition. Thriston Lawrence holds that position. At a minimum, he would need to finish 7th alone, although to really have a chance, he should be 5th alone or higher.
– Rookie of the Year. Same as Ayora. He has it tough against Marco Penge. He could only contest it with a victory in the Final. On his side, he has already won this year.
NACHO ELVIRA. Arrives at the Dubai Final in 36th place.
– Win the Race to Dubai. He can’t. The highest position he could reach is 3rd.
– Race to Dubai Bonus. The top 10 in the ranking receive it at the end of the tournament. A total of six million dollars is distributed. The winner takes two million, and the tenth-placed receives 150,000. He would need to be 2nd alone to at least get into the tenth position.
– PGA Tour Card. The top 10 in the Race to Dubai who are not already part of the American circuit receive it. The tenth card would currently go to Jordan Smith (15th in the Race). At a minimum, to have any chance, he needs to finish tied 2nd with two. He would practically secure it with a 2nd alone.
– The Open Championship. The top 25 in the Race to Dubai qualify for the 2026 edition. Thriston Lawrence holds that position. At a minimum, he would need to finish 7th alone, although to really have a chance, he should be 5th alone or higher.
JORGE CAMPILLO. Arrives at the Dubai Final in 47th place.
– Win the Race to Dubai. He can’t. The highest position he could reach is 3rd.
– Race to Dubai Bonus. The top 10 in the ranking receive it at the end of the tournament. A total of six million dollars is distributed. The winner takes two million, and the tenth-placed receives 150,000. He only has a chance to get into the tenth position by winning.
– PGA Tour Card. The top 10 in the Race to Dubai who are not already part of the American circuit receive it. The tenth card would currently go to Jordan Smith (15th in the Race). He needs to be 2nd alone.
– The Open Championship. The top 25 in the Race to Dubai qualify for the 2026 edition. Thriston Lawrence holds that position. At a minimum, he would need to finish tied 4th with one, although to really have a chance, he should be 3rd alone.
