DP World Tour CEO sheds light on the reality of golfers graduating to the PGA Tour
Graduating to the PGA Tour is a challenge in golf according to DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings. Even with the rise of LIV Golf, the PGA Tour is still considered the top tour in the world. Golfers who are working their way up generally end up on the PGA Tour if they can make it.
15 of the 20 Challenge Tour graduates and 16 out of 21 thanks to the Race to Dubai points list retained DP cards for 2025. Three of them won an event on the PGA Tour and two more are likely to play in the tour next year. That's not a high percentage.
Kinnings said via Scotsman:
“That is an extraordinary stat. You’ve got to find different pathways and we find every pathway we can to give people an opportunity, and the quality of the Challenge Tour and how it is being run by Jamie Hodges with an increased number of tournaments and increased number of quality events is preparing the players really well for the DP World Tour.
The CEO went on to say that it's "tough" to play on tour and to win any tournaments, but he believes the experience these golfers have by the time they make it even to the European Tour is very important.
He added:
"Just look at the graduates from the Challenge Tour, there’s been some brilliant players and, more than ever, I think they are coming out ready for tour life.”
It's a difficult road to the top of golf, but Kinnings believes the DP World Tour does the best job it can at getting players and preparing them for that level of play.
DP World Tour CEO emphasizes importance of storytelling
For many of these players, their relevancy is tied to how well-known they are with fans. Golf has often been accused of having a particular fanbase, and DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings believes these fans need to know who everyone is, including those on the European Tour trying to make it to the PGA Tour.
Via Scotsman, he said they are "big" and "colorful characters" who are going to add some flavor to the main tour.
“Building stories around your rising stars, local heroes and superstars is massively important."
He went on to say that building these stories has never been more important and gave a shoutout to the DP World Tour's content team for thriving in that area. However, he added:
“In some cases - take Rasmus, for instance, after his three wins - it’s a ready-made story because someone like him could be playing in Ryder Cups because they are coming off the Challenge Tour as the finished article.”
Per Kinnings, a lot goes into getting golfers from the DP World Tour to the PGA Tour.