The DP World Tour, The R&A and the PGA TOUR have today launched the Global Amateur Pathway, in an initiative driven by the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and with the intention of helping the best male amateur players to take the next step in their careers.
This historic initiative creates a path to the DP World Tour and associated Tours around the world for non-university amateur players: the best non-university male amateur who is within the top 20 of the WAGR at the end of the set period, will receive a DP World Tour card for the following season. A significant novelty that can bring a lot of game.
It’s not easy to achieve, but not impossible either. In fact, several current members of the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour such as Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama and Min Woo Lee would have benefited if the Global Amateur Pathway had previously existed.
This ranking will complement the PGA TOUR University, which grants membership in the Tours sanctioned by the PGA TOUR to the best university golf players, to ensure that opportunities are available for elite players at all amateur levels.
Players competing in eligible Global Amateur Pathway championships earn points in this ranking equivalent to the number of points awarded by the WAGR®.
Which players will be able to be part of this ranking?
To be eligible for the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking, amateur golfers must meet the following criteria:
- Not being a player of the NCAA Division I.
- Be at least 20 years old at the end of the calendar year of the corresponding ranking period.
- Be within the top 200 WAGR.
- Players who are outside the top 200 WAGR at the end of the Registration Period who then move into the top 100 WAGR® at any time before the conclusion of the Late Registration Period in the corresponding season.
This initiative aims to strengthen the strategic alliances forged by the DP World Tour to provide global paths to players. They also announce that there will be more exemptions available on the Challenge Tour and that they are working with seven other associated Tours, within their respective governance processes and deadlines, to finalize their participation. The first Global Amateur Pathway Qualification Period will conclude on October 13, 2024 and the first exemptions will be granted for the 2025 season.
With this new Global Amateur Pathway, non-university amateur players are provided with a clear path to the future in their careers on the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour.
The Global Amateur Pathway Ranking – based on the WAGR® – will be published every week on the Global Amateur Pathway page after the registration period, and the ranking will end on October 13, 2024. The Ranking is designed to identify and rank elite male amateur players (excluding NCAA Division I university players) who compete in eligible tournaments based on their average performance in such tournaments.
Guy Kinnings, Executive Director of the DP World Tour, said: “We are delighted to offer the best amateur players new opportunities through the Global Amateur Pathway, together with our partners at The R&A and the PGA TOUR.
“This initiative is the perfect example of the benefits that come from the strategic alliances and partnerships we have forged throughout the game of golf. The best amateur players now have similar opportunities to their professional counterparts, with clear paths around the world to ultimately compete at the pinnacle of the game.
“This complements the opportunities for collegiate players through the PGA TOUR University, and there is no better example of the benefits of that program than the young European Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg, who has seized every opportunity presented to him with both hands.
“Our thanks to The R&A and the PGA TOUR, and to each of the Tours that join to make this dream a reality for the next generation of amateur players.”
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said: “We are delighted to work in collaboration with the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR to launch the Global Amateur Pathway.
“We care deeply about amateur golf and the development of pathways for the most talented players from different regions of the world is one of our fundamental priorities. It is key to the sustainable future of this sport.
“We continue to create opportunities for elite amateurs to compete at the highest level through our major amateur championships and the Global Amateur Pathway provides players with a route to the professional ranks. We look forward to seeing them progress in their careers and will now explore opportunities to introduce a similar pathway in women’s football.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the DP World Tour and The R&A to take another step forward in strengthening the pathway for amateur athletes transitioning to professional golf,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Building on the success of PGA TOUR University over the past four years, the Global Amateur Pathway will ensure that the best young players from around the world can earn their way to golf’s biggest stages more efficiently than ever before.”
