One of the world's most promising young players, Chinese star Ding Wenyi, turned pro after topping the inaugural Global Amateur Pathway Rankings.
The program was launched in June by the DP World Tour, R&A and PGA Tour to help the world's best male non-college amateur golfers join the professional ranks.
Ting attended Arizona State University, but as of August, he was no longer on the men's golf roster.
Nonetheless, the 19-year-old won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan earlier this month to climb to the top of the rankings, earning him an exemption from the 2025 DP World Tour.
Ding's victory in Japan is one of many achievements in his illustrious amateur career, which includes two other wins this year and several other top-five finishes.
His first win of 2024 came at the Amir Ali Intercollegiate Tournament, where he finished at 27-under (an ASU record) and won easily by nine strokes. He followed that up with a win at the Southern Amateur in July.
Last year, Ding Junhui also got a taste of professional competition. He participated in the China Tour's Hainan Open and finished third, and then tied for seventh at the Volvo China Open. In September, he competed in the PGA Tour's Procore Championship but failed to make the cut.
After deciding to turn pro, World Amateur Golf No. 3 Ding said: “I am excited to start my professional career and look forward to competing on the DP World Tour next season.
Ding Wenyi will participate in the DP World Tour in 2025 after turning professional
(Image source: Getty Images)
“The Global Amateur Path has given me an incredible opportunity and I would like to thank the DP World Tour, R&A and PGA Tour for supporting me and my fellow amateurs in achieving our goals.”
Ding Junhui's win at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship earned him exemptions to next year's Masters and U.S. Open, but those exemptions will no longer apply and he admitted it was a difficult decision to give up his right to play in a major.
He added: “It was a difficult choice. I have been struggling with this decision after winning the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship. But after consulting with my family, I believe it will be the right decision.”
Ding Junhui is wasting no time in starting his career as he will compete in the Challenge Tour event at the Hangzhou Open in his hometown this week.
Ding Wenyi made his career debut at the Hangzhou Open
(Image source: Getty Images)
Others to benefit from the pathway include amateur champion Jacob Skov Olesen, who is second in the rankings and can now accept an exemption from the Challenge Tour, as well as Spain's Luis Masaveu Roncal and Frenchman Bastian Amat.
It's not his only option for Olsen, as he has also secured an exemption to the Asian Tour's 2025 International Series and admits he is “very open” to the chance of landing a LIV Golf contract via this route. .
Americans Nathan Petronzio, Peter Fountain, Ben Warian and Jake Hall, who have fallen further down the rankings, have been awarded the 2025 season Latin American Swing's PGA Americas Tour membership, while South African Tyran Snyders received an exemption from the Sunshine Tour and will make his career debut at this week's Fortress Invitational.
