Rory McIlroy shuts down big DP World Tour concern

Rory McIlroy is not worried about the DP World Tour’s position after an intriguing PGA Tour revelation…

Rory McIlroy has played down concerns that the DP World Tour could suffer after the PGA Tour revealed further details about their revamped competitive model.

On Tuesday, the US circuit announced its membership categories for its new two-tier structure, which will launch in 2028. The PGA Tour Championship Series will run concurrently alongside a Challenger Series, with promotion and relegation between the two.

But the DP World Tour was conspicuously absent in the list of potential pathways into the elite Championship Series. Currently, the best performing 10 players from Europe earn cards on the PGA Tour, but it is unclear how many spots will be afforded into the most exclusive and lucrative events from Europe when the tour is revamped.

“Access available to top performers from the DP World Tour is being considered as part of the ongoing discussions regarding the future of the Strategic Alliance,” the PGA Tour’s press release read.

There is a concern, though, that players on this side of the Atlantic could be left short-changed. There are also wider implications for returning LIV Golf players who may seek a route back to the PGA Tour via the DP World Tour. McIlroy was asked ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth whether he is worried about how the new membership criteria could impact DP World Tour players.

“No. I don’t think so,” he said. “I just think the conversation about the PGA Tour’s structure has changed. From my point of view, I don’t see any reason why a DP World Tour player would go to the Challenger Series. I don’t see that as an upward move in your career. I see it as a very lateral move.

“So it would just be: ‘OK, how many cards is reasonable to give to the DP World Tour for the Championship Series?’ I would imagine that’s what the ongoing discussions are. From the DP World Tour, they’re really trying to create something that is a viable alternative to the Challenger Series.

“Obviously this is going to be a pathway to the Championship Series. No one is going to argue that the Championship Series is going to be the highest level of tour golf that you can play, and then it’s just deciding what an adequate number of cards is to go from the DP World Tour to the Championship Series.

“I don’t see the Challenger [Series] as a progression from the DP World Tour, and I would say a lot of players would feel similarly here.”

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp, meanwhile, insisted that he “does not see any scenario” when the DP World Tour doesn’t benefit from direct spots into the Challenger Series. Rolapp was asked on Tuesday about the ongoing negotiations to extend the “strategic alliance” with the DP World Tour.

“We had a discussion yesterday,” he said. “We had a discussion last week. Discussions are ongoing. The spirit of those conversations are very productive. Both sides are trying to think creatively about how we modify and improve the relationship we have.

“Like any discussions, there’s things we agree on, things we don’t agree on, things we’re trying to work through, and we’ll continue to do that. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we’ll have more to say.”