With just 50 days to go until the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the race is on for players to secure their spot in the final Rolex Series event of the season at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The season-ending event on golf’s global circuit has a reputation for delivering dramatic finales and providing a stage for the biggest stars to shine with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Lee Westwood and Collin Morikawa all tasting victory in front of tens of thousands of fans at one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of golf.
The tournament is also highly exclusive, with only the leading 50 players available players on the Race to Dubai Rankings invited to compete at the Greg Norman-designed Earth course for one last shot at glory at winning both the tournament and the Harry Vardon Trophy, which is awarded to highest ranked player on the season-long standings.
With just six events to go before the DP World Tour Championship, a number of star names are in danger of missing out on the DP World Tour’s season finale.
Nicolai Højgaard
Last year’s champion, Nicolai Højgaard, needs to pick up the pace if he hopes to defend his title next month. The Dane has spent much of this season on the PGA Tour, having earned his card through last year’s Race to Dubai Rankings, but he has still managed to squeeze in 11 DP World Tour events,
His best result of the season came courtesy of a seventh-place finish at the Dubai Desert Classic, where he earned 194.60 of his current 567.06 Race to Dubai points, placing him 74th in the standings.
If he remains there, he’ll also miss out on the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which is open to the top 70 players. However, Højgaard still has a chance to climb the rankings with strong performances at the upcoming Dunhill Links Championship and French Open.
Viktor Hovland
Norwegian star Viktor Hovland has only made two regular DP World Tour appearances this season, yet he’s on the verge of breaking into the top 50, thanks to a strong performance at the U.S. PGA Championship.
The 2022 Dubai Desert Classic champion finished third at Valhalla Golf Club, earning 627 of his 663.80 season points. This leaves the Scandinavian talent in 62nd on the Race to Dubai, but he currently has no events on his schedule before the DP World Tour Championship.
Entry lists remain open for the French Open, Andalucía Masters, and Genesis Championship, giving the 27-year-old a chance to secure his spot in the season finale - if he acts quickly.
Jon Rahm
Three-time DP World Tour Championship winner Jon Rahm currently sits 125th in the Race to Dubai standings and will need to be at his best in the coming weeks to keep his hopes of a fourth title alive.
Aside from the Olympics and Major Championships, Rahm, who has played the majority of his season on the LIV Golf League, is making his first DP World Tour appearance of the year at this week's Spanish Open, where he aims to become the first four-time winner in the event's 52-year history.
A victory would earn him 835 points, easily securing his spot in the DP World Tour Championship. If not, Rahm will still have chances to climb the standings at upcoming tournaments in Scotland and Spain.
Matt Fitzpatrick
The Earth course has been a happy hunting ground for Matt Fitzpatrick over the years, with the Englishman claiming two of his nine DP World Tour titles on the track. But with a current ranking of 119th on the Race to Dubai, he is in danger of ending his nine-year streak of qualifying for the event.
The 30-year-old has struggled this season, failing to crack the top 20 in any of his seven DP World Tour appearances. Having said that, he will have a chance to turn things around next week at the Dunhill Links Championship, where he won superbly last year.
Without a strong result in Scotland, Fitzpatrick could miss his chance to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship with attention shifting to his upcoming wedding to Katherine Gaal next month.
