What Is Dp World Tour? Explained Simply
The DP World Tour is the new name for the European Tour, the leading professional golf tour operating across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. It was rebranded in November 2022 after a multiyear partnership between the European Tour group and DP World, a Dubai-based global logistics company. The tour still runs the same core schedule and events as the former European Tour, with the Race to Dubai remaining its season-long points competition.
This explanation covers the men’s professional tour only. Women’s golf, amateur events, and senior circuits (like the Legends Tour) are separate organizations with different rules.
How the Tour Works
The DP World Tour consists of roughly 40 to 45 tournaments per season. Events are spread across several continents, with the bulk of the schedule in Europe during the northern-hemisphere summer and a swing through the Middle East and Asia earlier and later in the year. The tour uses a points-based system to determine the season champion, awarding points based on finishing position in each event.
Race to Dubai Points System
Standard tournaments award approximately 1,500 Race to Dubai points to the winner. Rolex Series events – the tour’s premium tier – award double those points, meaning the winner of a Rolex Series tournament receives around 3,000 points. Exact point distributions are published on the tour’s website before each event. Points accumulate across the entire season; the top 70 players in the final standings keep their full playing privileges for the next season.
At the season’s end, the top 50 players in the Race to Dubai rankings qualify for the DP World Tour Championship, a limited-field final event in Dubai. The overall winner of the Race to Dubai is crowned at that tournament and receives a substantial bonus (typically in the millions of dollars). The runner-up also earns a significant bonus, but the exact amounts vary year to year depending on the total prize pool.
Key Events on the Calendar
- Rolex Series tournaments – The highest-tier events on the tour, featuring larger prize funds (often $8–$9 million) and stronger fields. Examples include the BMW PGA Championship, the Genesis Scottish Open, and the DP World Tour Championship itself.
- Major Championships – The DP World Tour awards Race to Dubai points for the four men’s majors (Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, The Open Championship), even though those events are not directly run by the tour.
- Co-sanctioned events – Several tournaments are jointly run with other professional tours. The Genesis Scottish Open, for instance, is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour, so points count on both tours. The Australian Open and the Joburg Open are also co-sanctioned. Practical note: If you are a player competing in a co-sanctioned event, your points may only count toward one order of merit depending on your membership status – confirm your tour membership terms before entering.
Verification step: To confirm that a tournament is part of the DP World Tour, visit dpworldtour.com and click “Schedule”. Each official event is listed with the tour logo; co-sanctioned events will show both tour logos. If an event appears only under a regional tour’s website (e.g., the Asian Tour), it likely is not part of the DP World Tour.
How Players Qualify
Players earn membership on the DP World Tour through several routes:
- DP World Tour Qualifying School (Q-School) – A multi-stage tournament held in the fall. The top finishers at the final stage earn playing cards for the following season. Q-School has three stages: first stage (played at several venues), second stage, and a final stage (usually one venue). Only a fixed number of cards are awarded – typically around 25–30 – so the competition is intense.
- Challenge Tour – The second-tier developmental tour under the DP World Tour umbrella. The top 20 players on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca rankings earn promotions to the DP World Tour for the next season. Additionally, the top 5 players on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit receive exemptions into select DP World Tour events, which can help them build points.
- PGA Tour membership – Players who hold PGA Tour cards are automatically eligible to play DP World Tour events, though most choose to play only a few per year (typically Rolex Series or co-sanctioned events).
- Sponsor exemptions and invites – Each tournament can invite a limited number of players who do not have full membership. National federations and tournament sponsors have discretion over these spots.
Trade-off to consider: The Qualifying School and Challenge Tour promotions are capped – only a fixed number of players earn cards each year. If you miss the cut by one stroke or finish 21st on the Challenge Tour rankings, you must wait another season or try alternate routes. Also, players who earn a PGA Tour card often reduce their DP World Tour schedule, so relying solely on co-sanctioned events for points can be risky if those events conflict with PGA Tour commitments.
DP World Tour vs. PGA Tour
The DP World Tour is smaller in prize money and global media exposure than the PGA Tour, but it remains the second most prominent professional golf tour in the world. Key differences include:
| Feature | DP World Tour | PGA Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Base prize money per event | Usually $2–$9 million | Typically $8–$20 million |
| Rolex Series / elevated events | Prize funds $8–$9 million | Designer events $15–$20 million |
| Number of full-time members | Around 120–130 | About 125–150 |
| Season finale | DP World Tour Championship (Dubai) | Tour Championship (Atlanta) |
| Major scheduling overlap | Events often run opposite PGA Tour weeks | Most events on separate weeks |
| Typical course variety | Links, parkland, desert, resort | Mostly parkland and resort |
The two tours have a strategic alliance that began in 2020, allowing top players from each tour to compete in the other’s co-sanctioned events and facilitating a clear pathway for the DP World Tour’s top performers to earn PGA Tour cards. Specifically, the top 10 players on the final Race to Dubai standings who do not already hold PGA Tour membership receive PGA Tour cards for the following season.
Practical implication for fans: If you follow the DP World Tour, you get to see golf on a wider variety of courses (links, parkland, desert) and earlier in the day (Europe/Asia time zones). But the overall strength of field may be lower than a typical PGA Tour event, especially for non-Rolex Series events.
Why the Rebrand?
The “European Tour” name was changed to “DP World Tour” to reflect the tour’s expanded global reach beyond Europe and to secure a title sponsor with deep financial resources. DP World – a Dubai-based port operator and logistics company – had already been a longtime sponsor of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship (previously called the Dubai World Championship). The rebranding, announced in 2022, made DP World the title sponsor of the entire tour. The European Tour group retains the same governing structure; only the brand name and logo changed. The tour continues to be based at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England.
The new name also signals the tour’s ambition to grow its presence in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Recent additions to the schedule include events in South Africa, Australia, and Japan, and more co-sanctioned tournaments are expected in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DP World Tour the same as the European Tour?
Yes, it is the same organization under a new name. The schedule, rules, and governing body remain identical.
What does “DP World” refer to?
DP World is a Dubai-based port operator and logistics company. It is the title sponsor of the tour.
Can PGA Tour players compete in DP World Tour events?
Yes, PGA Tour members are eligible to play, and many do, especially in Rolex Series events and co-sanctioned tournaments. However, they cannot earn full DP World Tour membership solely through these appearances unless they finish in the top 10 of the Race to Dubai standings.
How many events are on the DP World Tour schedule?
Approximately 40–45 tournaments per season, varying slightly year to year. The full schedule is published on dpworldtour.com.
What is the Race to Dubai?
It is the season-long points competition that determines the DP World Tour champion. Points are awarded for every official event, including Majors and Rolex Series tournaments. The player with the most points at the end of the season wins the Race to Dubai.
How can I watch the DP World Tour?
Coverage is available through broadcast partners such as Sky Sports (UK and Ireland), Golf Channel/NBC (USA), and various local broadcasters in other markets. The tour’s app and website also provide live scoring and highlights.
The DP World Tour offers a competitive platform for professional golfers worldwide, with a strong tradition of staging events on renowned courses and developing talent through its feeder systems. Whether you are a fan looking to follow the action or an aspiring player mapping your career, the tour provides a clear structure and multiple pathways to the highest levels of the sport.
Michael Reeves is a PGA Professional with over 20 years of experience in competitive golf and instruction. A former Division I collegiate player at the University of Texas, he competed on the mini-tours before transitioning to full-time coaching and golf journalism. He has been a certified PGA teaching professional since 2005 and has worked with players at every level, from absolute beginners to collegiate champions.
His writing has appeared in Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and The Left Rough. At GolfHubz, Michael leads the editorial team, overseeing fact-checking and ensuring every answer meets the same standard he demands on the lesson tee: clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.
When he’s not writing or teaching, Michael plays to a +1.4 handicap at his home club in Austin, Texas. He has attended over 40 major championships as a journalist and fan, and has played more than 200 courses across 15 countries.
You can reach Michael at [email protected] or follow his occasional swing analysis posts on the site.