DP World Tour CEO admits no perfect fix as LIV stars push for return

The final stage of DP World Tour Q-School is happening right now at Infinitum in Tarragona, Spain.

156 players are competing across two courses — Lakes and Hills — starting November 6 and ending November 11.

Each player will play two rounds on each course before the cut falls after 72 holes.

The top 60 players and ties then move to the final two rounds on the Lakes Course.

Only those who finish tied for 15th or better earn a DP World Tour card for 2027.

That card gives them Category 18 status, which means between 15 and 24 starts next season.

Last year's graduates got that many opportunities, based on the tour's schedule.

But the stakes are higher this year than last.

The number of DP World Tour cards available at Q-School has been reduced from 20 and ties to 15 and ties.

This is part of a change to the tour's membership structure, meant to give more certainty about playing opportunities for those who earn cards.

It doesn't make the task any easier for the players trying to get through.

Even players who miss out on a DP World Tour card still have something to play for.

Different categories of HotelPlanner Tour membership are available depending on where they finish.

There are 21 DP World Tour winners in the field.

Among them: former Ryder Cup player Ross Fisher, six-time winner Thomas Pieters, and nine-time winner Pablo Larrazábal.

England's Daniel Gavins and Dale Whitnell are also hoping to regain their playing privileges.

This is a high-stakes event that is presumably far more fun to watch than to participate in.

For many fans, the watching is the real enjoyment.

Tracking players you've followed all season, or even players who represent your golf club on tour.

There is something particularly satisfying about seeing a player from your own club making their way in the professional game.

Maybe you've played alongside them, watched them practicing on the range, or seen their name on the honors board.

A list has been compiled of players from Great Britain and Ireland who entered the final stage of DP World Tour Q-School this year, along with the clubs they are attached to.

Unfortunately, there are no Welsh players to speak of in 2026.

But for the rest, the dream is alive — at least for now.

This Q-School comes at a volatile moment for the DP World Tour.

CEO Guy Kinnings recently admitted there is "no perfect solution" to the tension building inside the tour.

Players are frustrated, and former LIV Golf stars are pushing for a mass return to the DP World Tour.

Some of those ex-LIV players have already terminated their DP World Tour memberships.

Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Graeme McDowell all gave up their memberships after moving to LIV Golf.

Garcia has since left the breakaway league and is preparing to return to the DP World Tour in 2027.

But his previous decision to relinquish membership could have lasting consequences for his Ryder Cup ambitions.

Rory McIlroy recently revealed how close he came to making the same mistake.

Speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links, McIlroy admitted he nearly gave up his European Tour membership in 2019.

"I was going to give my DP World Tour membership up in 2019, and I had a chat with Keith Pelley at the time," McIlroy said.

"I said, 'Look, you know, based in America. I want to focus over there for a bit.'"

Pelley, then the CEO, told McIlroy something that changed his mind.

"Keith said to me, 'Totally fine but you do know if you give up your membership or you resign your membership, you can't be a captain or vice-captain of the Ryder Cup in the future.'"

McIlroy replied: "Well, I'm not going to do that then."

Back in 2019, the circuit was known as the European Tour.

It changed to the DP World Tour in 2022.

McIlroy explained that his decision was not originally connected to LIV Golf or the subsequent divisions within professional golf.

Instead, he was simply considering whether maintaining commitments on both sides of the Atlantic was becoming too demanding.

"I've had that, I guess, thought in my mind at one point as well, and it wasn't even about LIV," McIlroy added.

"It was just about feeling like maybe I was spread too thin and trying to play here, there and everywhere."

He noted: "But everyone knows that rule, and everyone knows that if you..."

The rule McIlroy referred to is the DP World Tour's membership requirement for Ryder Cup captaincy or vice-captaincy.

That same rule now hangs over the heads of the ex-LIV players hoping to return.

For some players, the Q-School path is the only way back.

Thomas Pieters is determined to play his way back onto the DP World Tour through Qualifying School.

He is one of the marquee names in the field this week.

But not everyone made it to the starting line.

Marcel Siem's hopes of regaining his full DP World Tour card are over.

The German, who has been playing on the DP World Tour since 1998, was forced to withdraw.

He had to pull out of the Genesis Championship last month after an opening round of 11-over-par 82.

Siem then planned to regain his card at Q-School, but had to withdraw again before the event.

"Ever since the Irish Open last year, I've been struggling with back problems and ongoing pain," Siem said.