2 weeks Ago By Archie Griggs
A number of big-name players on the DP World Tour will enter the last-chance saloon at this week's Genesis Championship in Korea. The final regular season event of 2024 will be a crucial one for those running the risk of losing their tour cards next year. Players must finish in the top 114 to guarantee their place on the DP World Tour in 2025, but there are a few exceptions.
Matt Fitzpatrick and Sepp Straka are in the drop zone but will receive tour cards because they played in last year's Ryder Cup. Those who are not exempt will need to make sure they finish high enough to confirm their place on the tour next season. Otherwise, they could find themselves begging LIV Golf for a contract with the Saudi-backed series always on the lookout for new faces.
Ross Fisher is one of those players at risk of missing out on a tour card, but the 43-year-old is in a much better position than some of his rivals. He is currently ranked 108th, meaning a decent showing at the Genesis Championship will confirm his place ahead of next year. Ashun Wu, like Fisher, is safely through as things stand but will need to avoid slipping up to get himself over the line.
One poor round could be the difference for the Chinese hopeful, who is currently sat one place above the drop zone in 113th. One surprise name already in the danger zone is Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who is looking in from the outside in 121st. The big-hitting Spaniard will need to bring his best game to Korea to stand any chance of making a late surge up the leaderboard.
James Morrison is one place behind Cabrera-Bello in the rankings and finds himself in big trouble as a result. Finishing in the top 10 of the Genesis Championship will give him a fighting chance, but it is a big ask for someone who is nine years without a win. Eddie Pepperell, who won the British Masters in 2018, is arguably the biggest shock on the list of players at risk.
He sits 124th after missing three cuts in his last four starts, but he showed a glimpse of his quality with a T12 at the BMW PGA Championship last month. Sitting nine spots outside the top 114, Adri Arnaus will also be desperate to finish strongly in Korea this week. His last victory on the DP World Tour came at his home event in Barcelona two years ago, but there has been little else to shout about since then.
Meanwhile, it looks like the game is already up for Oliver Wilson unless he can pull a miracle out of the bag. He is currently ranked 135th, meaning he will likely need a top-five finish with other results going his way in order to secure a tour card. There will also be plenty of interest in the race to finish in the overall top 70, with those players making it through to the DP World Tour play-offs.
Players who finish in the top 10 will be granted PGA Tour cards as part of the strategic alliance between the two events..
