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WAGR
Registrations open for season three of the Global Amateur Pathway
12 Feb 26
4 mins
The registration period for the 2026 edition of the Global Amateur Pathway – powered by the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) – is now open, with the aim of helping the very best male amateur players to take the next step in their careers.
The landmark initiative, launched by the DP World Tour, The R&A and the PGA TOUR in 2024 creates a pathway for non-collegiate amateur players on to the DP World Tour and partner Tours around the world. Wenyi Ding of China and Scotland’s Cameron Adam (pictured above) topped the rankings in the first two years respectively. Ding recorded six top-20 finishes in his rookie season, ending the Race to Dubai Rankings delivered by DP World in 75th position to comfortably keep his card, and opened the 2026 season with a runner up finish at the BMW Australian PGA Championship. Adam – the 2023 Scottish Men’s Amateur Champion – had an eye-catching DP World Tour debut in August 2025, finishing inside the top-20 at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo where he received a tournament invite. He has started his rookie season in positive fashion, making the cut in three of his five events so far on the 2026 Race to Dubai.Increasing opportunities
The Global Amateur Pathway complements PGA TOUR University – which awards membership on PGA TOUR-sanctioned Tours to the top Division-I college golfers at the end of the NCAA Championship – to ensure opportunities are available for elite players across the amateur ranks.
Wenyi Ding topped the Global Amateur Pathway in 2024.
Under the Global Amateur Pathway, the highest-ranked eligible player in the final Ranking who is also within the WAGR® top 20 at that time, or at any point between 1 August 2026 and the conclusion of the Ranking Period on 11 October 2026, will earn DP World Tour membership for the 2027 season.
WAGR® comprises a women’s ranking and a men’s ranking for elite amateur players and is offered by The R&A and the USGA as a global service to golf. Players competing in Global Amateur Pathway eligible championships earn points equivalent to the number of points awarded by WAGR®.
The Global Amateur Pathway strengthens, and demonstrates the benefits of, the Strategic Alliances forged by the DP World Tour to provide global player pathways. As such, further exemptions are available on the HotelPlanner Tour – part of the European Tour Group – along with the Sunshine Tour, Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Professional Golf Tour of India and PGA TOUR Americas.
English pair Dominic Clemons and Charlie Forster and Kristian Hjort Bressum of Denmark all earned HotelPlanner Tour exemptions available to European and Middle Eastern players for the 2026 season.
Registrations for the current Global Amateur Pathway Ranking Period are now open and will close on 30 June 2026. The Global Amateur Pathway Ranking Period will then conclude on 11 October 2026, with exemptions awarded for the 2027 season. For more information on the Global Amateur Pathway, including the registration process, visit the Global Amateur Pathway page.
To be eligible for the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking, amateur golfers must meet the following criteria:
- Not be a current NCAA Division-I player.
- Not earned any performance benefits from PGA TOUR University in 2026.
- Be at least 20 years of age by the end of the calendar year of the relevant Ranking Period.
- Be within the top 200 WAGR.
- Players who are outside the top 200 WAGR by the end of the Registration Period who then move into the top 100 WAGR at any time prior to the conclusion of the Late Registration Period in the relevant season (20 September 2026).