Just over a year ago, David Puig teed off on Sunday in the star match of the Open de España and finished in third place. Since then, he has played 23 more tournaments around the world and only four times finished outside the top 20. If you search for the word solidity in AI, you’ll find Puig’s photo right next to it. The young man from Garriga has finished among the top 20 in all LIV Golf tournaments in 2025. Okay, it’s not the madness of Jon Rahm‘s Top 10s, but it’s not bad at all. However, beyond the numbers, the most important thing is that last summer he aimed to be more consistent and, definitely, he has achieved it. Just as he aimed to be in the Olympic Games. Just as he aimed to play Majors despite being in LIV. Like almost everything he sets his mind to… If Puig has a plan, it’s almost best to step aside.
Now, David, 23 years old, has a new plan and he has shared it with Ten Golf just hours before the Open de España begins at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. It has to do with the schedule from now until the end of the year and his goals. And yes, it largely depends on what he does this week. So be careful…
Specifically, Puig could play up to six consecutive tournaments. The first will be, without a doubt, the Hong Kong Open, the second would be the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the third would be the Dubai Finale, the fourth will be the PIF Saudi International, the fifth would be the Australian PGA Championship, and the sixth the Australian Open. A spectacular tour through Asia and Oceania. In case you hadn’t noticed, the Open de España, Hong Kong Open, and Australian Open offer a spot for the Masters. Yes, that’s also why he’s going to play them. Whatever it takes to be in the Majors.
As you can see, there are tournaments set as conditional and others as certain. The certain ones are Hong Kong and Saudi, both from the Asian Tour, while the conditional ones depend on what happens this week at the Open de España. Puig has a triple objective in Madrid. The first is to win. “A few years ago I came with fewer objectives, but now the main one is to try to take the victory. I believe I have the level of play and I am prepared. It’s a matter of fine-tuning at key moments and giving myself a good chance. I have the thorn from last year. Eager to do well. The course is good, so I’m ready,” he explains.
The second objective is to earn enough to get into the Abu Dhabi tournament, as you know, restricted to the top 70 of the Race to Dubai. At the moment, Puig has 462.83 points in the Race to Dubai (counted in the non-member list, as he is an affiliate), which equates to being in 110th place in the ranking. To secure the Top 70 within three weeks, he would need to finish in Madrid among the top four. A fifth place might also suffice, but it would depend on other results. Obviously, entering Abu Dhabi would allow him to open the door to playing in Dubai. If he wins the Open de España, he gets into both tournaments without problems.
Puig’s third objective in the Open de España is to secure playing rights on the DP World Tour for next year. That is, to guarantee a full card so he can create the schedule he wants and not be subject to invitations. To do this, he needs to accumulate at least the same points as the last player who retains the card. Right now, the cut line is marked at 115. That is, David would be in, but considering he doesn’t play in India or Korea in the next two weeks, he would do well to earn a good chunk to be calm. A top 30-40 should be enough.
Securing the card would allow him to play the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open without needing to request invitations. That is why the Open de España is an important week in David’s plans from now until the end of the year.
As for the game, the sensations are good. After a break from competing, he returned at a great level in the Dunhill Links. A pity about the last six holes at Old Course against the hurricane. In the Scottish tournament, he returned with a great novelty in his bag. Colin Byrne was his caddie instead of Alberto Sánchez. “Things have gone very well with Alberto. We have always been growing. We started because we were very good friends and over time, whether you like it or not, that friendship suffers. I didn’t want that. Now I’m going to bet on a more professional profile. The first sensations with Colin were very good, but we’ll see what we do. I don’t rule out trying other options. What I’m looking for is to start next year with a permanent caddie. That’s for sure,” he explains.
If the plan goes perfectly, note the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as the more than likely first tournament for Puig next year… Watch out for David’s plans.
