The DP World Tour, The R&A and the PGA Tour have recently unveiled the Global Amateur Pathway, a brand-new initiative aimed at helping the top male amateur golfers transition to professional careers on tour.
Powered by the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), it provides amateurs with the opportunity to play at the highest professional level, rewarding commitment and talent within the sport.
The exciting initiative opens up a clear route for non-collegiate amateur players to join the DP World Tour and its partner tours globally.
The Global Amateur Pathway will work alongside the PGA Tour University, which already grants membership to the top Division 1 college golfers following the conclusion of the NCAA Championship, establishing opportunities for elite players from all amateur levels.
Through the Global Amateur Pathway, the highest-ranked non-collegiate male amateur within the top 20 of the WAGR® will earn a DP World Tour card for the following season.
The WAGR® — provided by The R&A and the USGA — ranks both elite men’s and women’s amateur players globally, and those competing in Global Amateur Pathway eligible championships will earn points equivalent to the number of points awarded by the WAGR®.
The new pathway highlights the benefits of Strategic Alliances formed by the DP World Tour, creating opportunities for amateur players worldwide.
Additional exemptions will be available on the European Challenge Tour — part of the European Tour Group — while the DP Tour and PGA Tour are working with seven more partner tours to finalise their participation.
The first ranking period will end on 13 October 2024, when exemptions will be awarded for the 2025 season.
Reflecting on past players who would have thrived under this system, it’s clear how impactful the Global Amateur Pathway could be.
Players like Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama, and Min Woo Lee, who began their careers through sponsor exemptions, could have had a smoother transition into professional golf.
Fleetwood was a standout at the 2008 Amateur Championship and represented GB&I in the 2009 Walker Cup; Matsuyama, a two-time Asia Pacific Amateur Championship winner, was the first Japanese male to top the WAGR®; and Lee shone in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship.
The Global Amateur Pathway would have provided these with a professional tour membership and a clear path forward as they pursued a career on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
DP World Tour Chief Executive Guy Kinnings expressed his excitement: “We are delighted to offer the very best amateur players new opportunities through the Global Amateur Pathway, alongside our partners at The R&A and PGA TOUR.
This initiative exemplifies the benefits of the Strategic Alliances and partnerships across the game of golf. Elite amateur players now have clear pathways to compete at the pinnacle of the game, similar to their professional counterparts.
This complements the opportunities for collegiate players via PGA TOUR University, exemplified by European Ryder Cup star Ludvig Åberg. Our thanks go to The R&A, PGA TOUR, and all the Tours involved in making this dream a reality for the next generation of players.”
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, shared his enthusiasm: “We are delighted to work in partnership with the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR to launch the Global Amateur Pathway. Developing pathways for talented players from different regions is a fundamental priority for us, ensuring a sustainable future for the sport.
The Global Amateur Pathway provides elite amateurs with a route to the professional ranks, and we look forward to their progress. We will also explore opportunities to introduce a similar pathway in the women’s game.”
PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan added, “We are thrilled to partner with the DP World Tour and The R&A to strengthen the pathway for amateur athletes transitioning to professional golf. Building on the success of PGA TOUR University, the Global Amateur Pathway will enable the best young players from around the world to reach golf’s biggest stages more efficiently.”
To be eligible for the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking, amateur golfers must meet the following criteria:
- Not be a current NCAA Division-I player.
- Be at least 20 years of age by the end of the calendar year of the relevant Ranking Period.
- Be within the top 200 WAGR®.
- Players who are outside the top 200 WAGR® by the end of the Registration Period who then move into the top 100 WAGR® at any time prior to the conclusion of the Late Registration Period in the relevant season.
The Global Amateur Pathway Ranking — based on the WAGR® —will be updated weekly on the Global Amateur Pathway page following the registration period.
This ranking is designed to identify and rank elite male amateur players (excluding NCAA Division 1 collegiate players) based on their average performance in eligible tournaments, with the qualification period ending on 13 October 2024.
