Rory McIlroy plays down concerns for DP World Tour players over PGA Tour qualifying criteria
Rory McIlroy is unconcerned about the impact the PGA Tour’s new membership criteria for its revamped competitive structure could have on DP World Tour players seeking to earn a card on the US circuit.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour outlined new membership categories for its two-tier promotion-and-relegation structure, launching in 2028.
As part of the updated format:
Under the current PGA Tour qualification structure, the top 10 players finishing at the top of the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai Rankings will win PGA Tour cards for the following season.
However, the PGA Tour did not confirm how many cards will be offered to top performers on the DP World Tour.
The PGA Tour said: "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."
Ahead of this week's BMW PGA Championship, McIlroy was asked if the new membership criteria was something to be worried about for DP World Tour players, he said: "No. I don't think so.
"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 Tour as a progression from the DP World Tour, and I would say a lot of players would feel similarly here."
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15 of September 2026
