The DP World Tour - formerly known as the European Tour - is the second-most prestigious professional golf circuit in the world. With events spanning five continents and a storied history of producing major champions and Ryder Cup heroes, the DP World Tour offers fans some of the most exciting and diverse golf on the planet. This guide covers everything you need to know about the tour, its format, key events and how to follow the action.
History of the DP World Tour
The European Tour was founded in 1972, with the first official Order of Merit season played that year. For decades, it served as the primary platform for European professional golfers, producing legends like Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.
In 2022, the tour rebranded as the DP World Tour after securing a landmark title sponsorship deal with the Dubai-based logistics company. The name change reflected the tour's increasingly global schedule and ambitions, while maintaining its European heritage and identity.
The tour's relationship with the PGA Tour has deepened significantly since the two signed a Strategic Alliance in 2020. It provides playing opportunities on both circuits, most visibly the PGA Tour cards handed to the leading DP World Tour players every season.
How the DP World Tour Season Works
The DP World Tour season straddles the calendar year. The 2026 season opened with the BMW Australian PGA Championship in late November 2025 and closes with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai from 12 to 15 November 2026. The Race to Dubai serves as the season-long points competition - the European equivalent of the PGA Tour's FedExCup.
Race to Dubai
The Race to Dubai replaced the Order of Merit in 2009. Players are now ranked on Race to Dubai points rather than money: Global Swings events carry 3,000 to 4,000 points, Back 9 events 5,000, Rolex Series events 8,000, and the two Play-Off events 9,000 and 12,000. The top 70 qualifying players reach the DP World Tour Play-Offs, the Abu Dhabi Championship followed by the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
The Race to Dubai champion is crowned after the final event, lifts the Harry Vardon Trophy and takes the largest share of a bonus pool. The title carries enormous prestige and is considered one of the highest achievements in European golf. Rory McIlroy won it for a seventh time in 2025. As of 7 October 2026, Patrick Reed leads the 2026 Race to Dubai, with McIlroy second. The top ten members not otherwise exempt on the final rankings earn PGA Tour cards for the following season.
Rolex Series Events
The Rolex Series, launched in 2017, represents the elite tier of DP World Tour events, featuring the largest purses and the strongest fields. In 2026 there are five, each worth at least $9 million:
- Hero Dubai Desert Classic: the Rolex Series opener in January
- Genesis Scottish Open: co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour and played at the Renaissance Club in July
- BMW PGA Championship - the tour's flagship event, held at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England
- Abu Dhabi Championship: the first of the two Play-Off events in November
- DP World Tour Championship - the season finale in Dubai, with a $10 million purse
Co-Sanctioned Events
Several events on the DP World Tour calendar are co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour, meaning they count on both tours' rankings. The four major championships fall into this category, as does the Genesis Scottish Open, giving DP World Tour members access to the biggest stages in golf.
Key DP World Tour Events
Beyond the Rolex Series, the schedule features a rich variety of events across the globe:
- Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - played across three iconic Scottish links courses: the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns
- Omega European Masters - held at the stunning Crans-sur-Sierre course in the Swiss Alps
- Irish Open - one of the oldest national opens in golf, played at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg in 2026
- Nedbank Golf Challenge - one of several African events that showcase the tour's global reach
The 2026 schedule features a minimum of 42 Race to Dubai events in 25 countries, making it the most geographically diverse professional golf circuit in the world.
Ryder Cup Qualification
The DP World Tour's most important connection to the wider golf world is through the Ryder Cup. The biennial team competition between Europe and the United States is one of the biggest events in all of sport, and the DP World Tour is where European Ryder Cup players earn their places.
For the 2027 match at Adare Manor, eligible DP World Tour members earn points on a single Ryder Cup Points List from Race to Dubai events (including the majors) and PGA Tour events between 27 August 2026 and 22 August 2027. The leading six qualify automatically, and captain Luke Donald completes the 12-man team with six picks. Playing well on the DP World Tour throughout the season is the surest path to making the team.
For everything about the upcoming edition, see our Ryder Cup preview.
How Players Qualify for the DP World Tour
There are several routes to earning a DP World Tour card:
- Qualifying School - a gruelling multi-stage qualification process open to professionals worldwide
- HotelPlanner Tour - the DP World Tour's developmental circuit, known as the Challenge Tour until HotelPlanner became title partner in 2025, with the top finishers on the season-ending rankings earning promotion
- PGA Tour partnership - the strategic alliance provides cross-membership opportunities for top players
- Exemptions - major champions, former Race to Dubai winners and other top performers receive exemptions
DP World Tour vs PGA Tour
While the PGA Tour is generally considered the stronger circuit in terms of field depth and prize money, the DP World Tour offers unique appeal:
| Feature | DP World Tour | PGA Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic reach | 25 countries, 5 continents (2026) | Primarily North America |
| Season-long race | Race to Dubai | FedExCup |
| Course variety | Links, desert, mountain, parkland | Mostly parkland |
| Number of events | 42+ (2026) | 35 FedExCup events plus an eight-event Fall (2026) |
| Ryder Cup link | European team qualification | American team qualification |
Many players hold membership on both tours, competing in the biggest events on each schedule. Rory McIlroy is the clearest example: a PGA Tour regular who has still won the Race to Dubai seven times, most recently in 2025.
Notable DP World Tour Alumni
The tour has produced some of the greatest players in golf history:
- Seve Ballesteros - the charismatic Spaniard who won five majors and captivated audiences worldwide
- Nick Faldo - six-time major champion whose 25 Ryder Cup points stood as the European record until Sergio Garcia passed it in 2018
- Bernhard Langer - German legend with two Masters titles and an extraordinary PGA Tour Champions career
- Colin Montgomerie - eight Order of Merit titles, seven of them consecutive from 1993 to 1999, a record that may never be broken
- Jon Rahm - two-time major champion (2021 U.S. Open, 2023 Masters) who built his reputation on the European and PGA Tours before joining LIV Golf
How to Follow the DP World Tour Live
With events across multiple time zones, following the DP World Tour can be a challenge. GolfMode is being built for exactly that problem. The app is not out yet, but there is a waitlist.
The tour's global schedule means there is almost always golf to follow, from the Australian and African events in December, through the Middle East swing in January, to the season finale in Dubai in November.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the DP World Tour and the European Tour?
They are the same tour. The European Tour was rebranded as the DP World Tour in 2022 following a title sponsorship agreement. The tour's structure, events and heritage remain the same.
Can DP World Tour players compete on the PGA Tour?
Yes. Under the Strategic Alliance, the top ten DP World Tour members not otherwise exempt on the final Race to Dubai rankings earn PGA Tour cards for the following season. Many players hold dual membership and compete on both circuits.
How does the DP World Tour relate to the Ryder Cup?
The DP World Tour is the primary qualifying pathway for the European Ryder Cup team. For 2027, DP World Tour members earn points on a single Ryder Cup Points List; the top six qualify automatically and captain Luke Donald adds six picks.
Is the DP World Tour played only in Europe?
No. Despite its European heritage, the DP World Tour has a truly global schedule with events in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia and occasionally the Americas. It is the most geographically diverse professional golf tour in the world.
GolfMode is coming. Join the waitlist to hear when it launches.
Published by GolfMode Editorial. Every article is researched and fact-checked against official tour and championship sources, and updated when the facts change. Learn about our editorial approach.
GolfMode App · Coming soon
Live scores, coming soon.
We are building real-time scores, player alerts and hole-by-hole tracking across the tours. Join the waitlist to hear when it launches.
Join the Waitlist
