After a few months of intense competition, the battle to reach the season ending DP World Tour Playoffs has reached its end and there are just 70 players remaining in the hunt to end the season as the Race to Dubai Champion.
Operating in a similar way to the PGA Tour’s FedEx Playoffs, the 70 players who have made it into the playoffs will head down to Abu Dhabi to play in the Abu Dhabi Championship, with big points on the line and with players able to move up and down the overall standings depending on how they perform, the objective is to ensure a top 50 finish which will then mean eligibility for the season ending DP World Tour Championship.
It is after the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship that the overall Race to Dubai Champion will be crowned.
With the hope of excitement and drama, this is the first year that the DP World Tour has tried to align its season ending format to that of the FedEX Playoffs and the anticipation is building. Ahead of the Playoffs starting in November, here is everything that you need to know.
How does the format of the FedEx Playoffs and DP World Tour Playoffs differ?
Although both the FedEx Playoffs and the DP World Tour Playoffs operate in a similar fashion, there are some key differences.
Firstly, the FedEx Playoffs has three events, the St Jude, the BMW and the Tour Championship whereas the DP World Tour has just two, the Abu Dhabi Championship and season ending Tour Championship.
In terms of how the season ending fields are determined, across its three events the FedEx restricts players from 70 to 50 to a final 30 who compete in the season ending Tour Championship. In the DP World Tour only the final fifty players will be eligible for the season ending Tour Championship.
When does the DP World Tour Playoffs begin?
The great news for golf fans all over the world is that the DP World Tour Playoffs are due to start soon.
The first tournament is the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Set to take place at the picturesque Yas Links Club, the action will begin on the 7th November. Those fifty players who qualify for the season ending DP World Tour Playoffs will tee it up at the world famous Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai with the action starting a week later on the 14th November.
Who will be looking to win the Race to Dubai?
There are several players who will hope to end the season in a strong fashion but the man to beat without doubt is Rory McIlroy.
Already a five time winner of the Race to Dubai, McIlroy is looking to win the title for the third time in succession and is in a commanding position to do so. A winner down in Dubai earlier in the season, although he hasn’t been to add to that title, he has been consistent over the last few months, posting runner up efforts at both the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship.
Holding an almost 2,000 point lead at the top of the rankings, it will take something special from one of his rivals to overhaul him or they will need the four time major winner to blow up. Already a European great, he can extend his legacy further with yet another Race to Dubai title.
In second place in the standings and who will start as McIlroy’s nearest competitor is the South African Thriston Lawrence.
Largely unheralded before the start of the season, Lawrence was a prolific winner back in his native South Africa but has taken his game to an entirely new level this season. A four time DP World Tour winner, Lawrence almost shocked the world when he led the Open deep into the final round.
Eventually being surpassed by Xander Schauffele, Lawrence would have to settle for a sixth place finish but he has set himself up nicely for a big finish to the year. Although he will start as a heavy underdog he could be a player to watch with real interest.
In third place is Rasmus Hojgaard. The Dane has had a brilliant season, a thrilling winner of the Irish Open he has also posted numerous top five finishes. A ball striker like few in Europe, Hojgaard has already assured his place on the PGA Tour for next season and can attack the DP World Tour Playoffs with absolutely nothing to lose.
The race for the PGA Tour places
Due to the close alignment of the DP and PGA Tours a new agreement is in place that see’s the top ten finishers in the DP World Tour already not affiliated with the PGA Tour earn a PGA Tour card.
Offering riches and a legacy that the DP World Tour simply can’t match, the incentive to snap up one of the PGA Tour places on offer is a huge incentive.
At the moment hugely talented players such as Matteo Mannassero, Jesper Svensson and Niklas Norgaard all hold PGA cards but depending on how they play those lucrative spots might be taken away from them. Names to keep an eye on are Thorbjorn Olesen, Laurie Canter and Tom McKibbin, all will start the playoffs outside of the PGA Tour places but will be looking to end the year with a spot on the best tour in the world.
Players looking to take their career to the next level
Although it looks a tough task in trying to overhaul McIlroy at top of the Race to Dubai standings there are several players who will be looking to end their years in style.
Rob MacIntyre has been able to have a breakthrough year. The winner of the 2024 Scottish Open, he has also been able to cement his immediate future on the PGA Tour by winning the 2024 Canadian Open. Now rightly regarded as one of Europe’s best talents, he will want to end the year on top and offer everyone a timely reminder of why many believe he has the capabilities of winning several majors.
For years Tommy Fleetwood has been one of Europe’s greatest players. A key part of two winning Ryder Cup teams, Fleetwood has enjoyed a brilliant career but hasn't been able to win enough big tournaments.
Often his achilles heel can be keeping his round together for four rounds with one poor round usually making him come unstuck. Needing to be more consistent, Fleetwood has enjoyed success down in the Middle East before and he will hope to build on those memories to land one of the biggest titles of his career.
Jack Hartman
A keen golfer and huge fan of the game, Jack has been covering golf for the last five years. Bringing you all the latest coverage and news from the PGA, LIV, LPGA and DP World Tours, never before has golf been so popular and Jack can’t wait to bring all the excitement to his readers.
