Iván Cantero has concluded today in Qatar a more than remarkable tour through the desert. Four weeks of competition in Dubai (finished 31st), Ras al Khaimah (5th), Bahrain (4th), and Qatar (14th) with an excellent haul as a reward. The Asturian has made all four cuts, but not only that, as in RAK and especially in Bahrain, he was in contention for the win. The fact is that right now Cantero already has 444 points in the Race to Dubai, a figure that really secures his playing rights on the DP World Tour for 2026, since last year 426 were needed and we are still in February.
The Spanish player has also gained around 150 places in the world ranking, as he ended the year 2024 as Number 403 and tomorrow, Monday, he will be around Number 260 after the four desert tournaments. A commendable advance in the arduous and tortuous goal that top players have of reaching sooner or later that coveted world top 100, not to mention the top 50, which is the key that opens the door to the major events. Precisely in that line can and should go the mental work of the Spaniard, as he himself acknowledges, beyond the purely technical aspect: truly believing himself capable of competing with the best.
Iván plans to play the three remaining tournaments of the International Swing, the second series of tournaments on the European circuit calendar, namely: Kenya Open, South African Open, and Joburg Open, so he still aspires to win precisely the ranking of the International Swing, as he is currently ninth in that classification.
Ángel Ayora is also well placed in the Race to Dubai, with a total of 346 points after his 14th place in Qatar, although he still has work ahead to achieve that first goal, that of ‘staying’. The young Andalusian will also attend the Kenya Open and then will have to wait to see if he gets into the South African Open, as his category does not guarantee it at the moment.
