Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick got the European season off to a flying start with arguably the best final we’ve seen at a DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy’s eagle to force the play-off, similar to what he did en route to winning the Irish Open in September, was consistent with this sensational Masters winning season. Fitzpatrick confirmed his return to form with his first victory in two years.
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Their performances against a group of Ryder Cup-winning teammates show that European football is in poor health. But what about the DP World Tour (DPWT) and men’s professional golf in general after an exciting year on the ropes?
Many questions remain about the future. The sport remains fractured since the arrival of the breakaway LIV Golf league in 2022.
“The world of professional golf is still a bit weird and who knows what the future will look like,” McIlroy admitted after winning his seventh Race to Dubai title on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Northern Irishman is right, but “a bit weird” is an understatement, so much remains to be resolved.
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There are the long-winded appeals of Ryder Cup stars Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to be heard. Their case will determine whether they can continue playing for Europe.
There is also a new regime in charge of the PGA Tour, the strategic alliance of the European Tour’s partners, with little representation from the former world tour at the top of the Florida-based giant’s management structure.
Nonetheless, performances on the course ensured an engaging season that generated interest and grew audience and listening figures throughout the year.
A sensational Ryder Cup victory in New York by Luke Donald’s team capped a campaign in which McIlroy became the first man from the continent to complete the career Grand Slam and Tommy Fleetwood won the US FedEx Cup.
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Building on these successes, a new 10-year, multi-million dollar deal with title sponsors DP World was announced last week. “You wouldn’t do that without success on the ropes,” Guy Kinnings, chief executive of the European Tour Group, told BBC Sport.
“It’s a recognition that one of the biggest brands in the world sees the value in golf in itself and recognizes where we are in golf.”
McIlroy agrees. “The DP World Tour, with everything that’s going on in golf, has somehow found itself in a very strong position,” he told me, pointing to the title sponsor’s “commitment” and the success of the Ryder Cup team.
He also said that “incredible events like this, from the beginning of September to the end of January”, mean that “the DP World Tour is the shining light of golf during this period”.
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“It’s amazing that all the players are coming to play in these events, and I hope it continues for a long time.”
“Fans want the big parties to come together”
But despite this and its investment in European football, DP World – a multinational logistics giant based in Dubai – also believes there is still an awful lot to be sorted out in the sport.
“The only solution for the golf world is for the three main parties to unite,” said Daniel Van Otterdijk, communications director of the DP World group.
“It’s the LIV/Asian Tour, the European Tour and the PGA Tour, because, at least, it’s the golf fans who want that.”
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Van Otterdijk added: “Scottie Scheffler is world number one. But is he? How do you know? You don’t know.
“Where’s Jon Rahm? Where’s Brooks Koepka? Where’s Bryson DeChambeau? They could be number one, for all we know, if they played equal events, and they didn’t have all the penalties and all the other nonsense that goes with it. So it might be different.
“It’s a bit like the boxing world. You’re the WBA world champion. But not WBC. So, is he better than you?
“And it’s really only when you’re the unified world champion that you can claim that you’re truly the world champion, right?
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“Well, no one can claim that right now. So even for the players it must seem a little hollow.”
Van Otterdijk doesn’t share McIlroy’s rosy view of the evolving golf calendar. “I can’t say we’re totally enamored with the schedule as it is,” he said.
“I would like to see a more integrated tour throughout the year, with DPWT events popping up and more players participating on our tour, especially American players.”
That would require a significant change in approach by the PGA Tour under new boss Brian Rolapp, who was recruited earlier this year from the NFL.
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There are few signs of a more global outlook, particularly with tour support from US-based Strategic Sports Group. The PGA Tour’s alliance with the European Tour must be renegotiated from 2027.
“The strategic alliance is very strong,” insisted Kinnings. “We work closely together and I really enjoyed interacting and working with Brian.
“We speak regularly. He’s got a big job and he’s clearly well equipped to do it. You have people who I think will bring a new approach but one where we work closely with them.”
As part of this relationship, the top 10 DPWT players without playing privileges in America receive PGA Tour cards. This is a very popular incentive for players on the continental circuit.
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Among those celebrating a new life in the United States next season are England’s Marco Penge, Laurie Canter, John Parry and Jordan Smith.
“Without fans and sponsors, you have no product”
This close relationship between tours on both sides of the Atlantic mutually reinforces their positions as Saudi-funded LIV attempts to make inroads against the golf establishment.
Kinnings had no comment on his move from 54 to 72 holes next season. “It’s entirely a decision they have to make for what’s best for them,” he said. “I wouldn’t expect them to comment on what we’re doing.”
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But a solution must still be found if Rahm and Hatton can maintain the DPWT membership required to remain eligible for Ryder Cup teams.
Both are appealing the fines and suspensions imposed since their move to LIV in 2024.
Kinnings agrees that the problem needs to be addressed.
“It’s true,” he said. “This is a matter that is in the hands of the lawyers and so for me it would be wrong to comment further on this. But it is ongoing.”
Van Otterdijk wonders whether both players might be tempted to return to the facility’s tours when their LIV contracts expire.
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“These guys might decide, look, we made our money on the LIV tour,” he speculated. “We would like to go back and do more tours.
“How it’s going to happen exactly, I don’t know. That will be the other interesting element. Are they coming back via the European tour, for example?
“As it stands right now, there is an obstacle to returning to the PGA Tour. They can’t come back to this tour.
“But I anticipate Guy might look at that and say, come back via the European tour, win one of the 10 cards and come back that way. Maybe that’s a good way to do it, and it would suit us.”
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While in public Kinnings is understandably cautious and circumspect about the future, the backers who lend their names to his tour are more candid. Talk about money and DP World puts a lot of it into the game.
They are convinced that golf is approaching a critical period. The fragmented nature of men’s professional golf cannot continue, even when someone as charismatic and transcendent as McIlroy reigns supreme.
Van Otterdijk negotiated the latest deal which provides Kinnings’ organization with an important security measure. But the sponsorship boss of DP World wants more and calls for unity.
“I think it’s the only solution,” he said. “They all see the need for it and the benefits. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll get it the way they want it.
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“And that is the problem, that is where concessions and conciliations will have to be made. We have been very clear to the three parties with whom we have had discussions.
“Listen to the fans and listen to the sponsors because without these two groups you don’t have a product and the players don’t have money to play.
“So I’m sure they will. Three different parties have the same goal, but they have three different ways of getting there.
“That’s the challenge, isn’t it? That’s the challenge.”
