There were two major battles in South Korea beyond the victory. One, the more festive, was getting into the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a Rolex Series tournament with a nine million dollar purse, a play-off of the DP World Tour and reserved for the top 70 of the Race to Dubai. The other, more tragic, was saving the full playing rights of the tour for the next year. Obviously, both are a consequence of the entire year, but the Genesis Championship, being the last regular tournament of the season, has finished dictating the verdict.
Regarding being in Abu Dhabi, we had three Spaniards in this battle at the start of the Korea tournament: Pablo Larrazábal, Alfredo García Heredia, and Alejandro del Rey. Of the three, Del Rey has secured it with his fourteenth position, Alfredo is likely, but still not guaranteed after finishing 60th, and Larrazábal is out after missing the cut.
We explain García Heredia’s situation, as it is the most ambiguous. He is in 72nd place after the Genesis Championship and, as we have noted, the top 70 qualify for Abu Dhabi, but it is the 70 available, meaning if there are withdrawals for any reason, the position moves down. As of today, the absence of Jon Rahm is confirmed, who will not be in the emirate despite qualifying within the top 70, so the 71st in the Race to Dubai already knows for sure they can play. Thus, Alfredo needs one more withdrawal to enter the tournament. It is quite likely to happen, but at this time no one has guaranteed it.
It is not easy to know who might miss out. Of those at the top who could be doubtful due to their position in the Race to Dubai, McIlroy, Horschel, Scott, Lowry, Rose, MacIntyre, Niemann, and Fleetwood have confirmed their presence. Of the rest, it is unlikely that any of those fighting for the PGA Tour card will miss it, unless due to injury, of course. As things stand, the two names highlighted in red who might miss out are Min Woo Lee and Adrian Meronk. In any case, we insist that Alfredo still does not have confirmation from the DP World Tour that he is in Abu Dhabi. He will have to keep an eye on the phone, although it is not a situation that keeps the Asturian awake at night.
In the Genesis, there has been a significant movement regarding the top 70 of the Race to Dubai. No less than five players have managed to get in due to their performance in South Korea: Nicolai Hojgaard, Francesco Laporta, Brandon Stone, Casey Jarvis, and Gavin Green. The latter two, by the way, achieved it largely with a stratospheric finish of four birdies in the last five holes. Those who have dropped out are Joost Luiten, Adrien Saddier, Alfredo García Heredia, Sean Crocker, and Matthew Baldwin. The last two did not even play in Korea, although Baldwin will surely be in Abu Dhabi, as he is in 71st place and, as we have said, Jon Rahm is confirmed not to play.
Regarding the fight to maintain full playing rights, a total of 39 players classified from the 115th position of the Race to Dubai onwards landed in Korea, meaning outside the positions that maintain category 10. Of all of them, three have been the heroes who have managed to get into the top 114: Ricardo Gouveia, who has gained 54 places (finally 100th) after finishing in third place alone, Iván Cantero, who has gained 18 places (99th) after finishing sixth tied, and Marco Penge, who has moved up five positions (105th) after finishing 22nd tied.
The drama has been for two players: the Chinese Ashun Wu, who arrived 113th and has fallen to 115th after finishing last among those who made the cut, and the German Freddy Schott, who landed in Korea just in 114th place and has finished 117th after missing the cut. The third to drop out of those top 114 is Ryan Fox, although the New Zealander, who was not in Korea, has no problem as his full card is secured as a winner.
The most curious thing in the battle for the card is that for the second consecutive year Ross Fisher has been the last to maintain full playing rights. He has finished in 114th place. The Englishman is tempting fate a lot. Among those who have lost this category, we highlight the Spaniards Santi Tarrio, Rafa Cabrera Bello (who will play the full year with the Legends category), Sebas García, and Adri Arnaus. All except Rafa will attend the Final Stage at Infinitum. Another notable name in this fight is Soren Kjeldsen. The Dane, who played this year with the Legends category, has lost full DP World Tour rights for the first time in 27 years. We will also see him at the Final Stage.
