The DP World Tour, the PGA Tour, and The R&A have launched the Global Amateur Pathway, an initiative designed to help the world’s best non-collegiate male amateur golfers transition to professional status.
This new pathway allows top non-collegiate male amateurs to earn a place on the DP World Tour and other partner circuits globally. It is intended to complement the existing PGA Tour University, which offers Division I college players a pathway to PGA Tour membership after the NCAA Championship.
The Global Amateur Pathway will grant a DP World Tour card to the top 20 non-collegiate male amateurs according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) for the following season. Additionally, more exemptions are planned for the European Challenge Tour, with the DP World Tour and PGA Tour collaborating with seven other Tours to confirm their participation.
Guy Kinnings, CEO of the DP World Tour, highlighted the importance of strategic alliances in making this initiative possible. He stated, “This initiative showcases the benefits of the strategic alliances and partnerships we’ve established in golf. The best amateur players now have opportunities similar to their professional counterparts, with clear pathways to compete at the highest levels globally.”
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, expressed enthusiasm for the pathway, emphasizing its significance for the future of amateur golf. “We care deeply about amateur golf and creating pathways for the most talented players from various regions is a fundamental priority. This is crucial for the sport’s sustainable future,” Slumbers said. He also indicated the potential for extending a similar pathway to the women’s game.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan noted the success of PGA Tour University and its influence on the new initiative. He remarked, “The Global Amateur Pathway will enable the best young players worldwide to earn their way onto golf’s biggest stages more efficiently.”
The initiative aims to streamline the professional journey for players like Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama, and Min Woo Lee, who previously relied on sponsor exemptions. With the Global Amateur Pathway, future talents will have a more defined route to professional golf.
Eligibility criteria include being a non-NCAA Division I player, at least 20 years old by the end of the ranking period, and ranked within the top 200 of the WAGR. Players outside the top 200 must have been in the top 100 at any point before the late registration period in the relevant season.
The first Global Amateur Pathway ranking period concludes on October 13, with exemptions awarded for the 2025 season. Rankings will be published weekly on the Global Amateur Pathway page following the registration period, with qualification ending on October 13.
