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Scotland’s Cameron Adam tops Global Amateur Pathway Ranking
16 Oct 25
5 mins
Cameron Adam has topped the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking, earning a DP World Tour exemption for the 2026 season.
The 22-year-old Scot earned the number one position in the second year of the Global Amateur Pathway, powered by the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), and he’s aiming to follow in the footsteps of the inaugural number one, Wenyi Ding of China, who has enjoyed a standout rookie campaign, comfortably keeping his card and targeting a place in the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs. Adam secured his playing rights for 2026 after a nervy finish to the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking, knowing he had to stay within the WAGR® top 20 to meet the criteria to earn a DP World Tour card. His individual finish of 58th at the World Amateur Team Championships in Singapore - with Scotland taking seventh place in the team contest - was enough to do just that, as he held on to 20th position. The 2023 Scottish Men’s Amateur Champion – who went on to enjoy a glittering college career at Northwestern University – enjoyed a memorable 2025, earning a place in The Open at Royal Portrush after winning The Open Amateur Series and representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Cypress Point.
Cameron Adam played The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.
Overjoyed
The left-hander from Edinburgh also made an eye-catching DP World Tour debut at The Belfry in August, finishing inside the top 20 at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo where he received a tournament invite. Adam said: “Over the moon is probably a good way to put how I feel about the year. About 13 months ago I was struggling a bit with golf, and it’s all turned around. It’s all kind of nuts and definitely something that I’m sitting back and taking in. “It was a nervy few months between the last event and going out to Singapore - and a nervy start in Singapore, left myself a lot of work – but I’m just happy to be where I am now. “I’m buzzing for the season ahead. I got a wee taste at The Belfry, which was so important, and I’m extremely grateful for that. Getting a taste of what it’s like, the opportunities I’m going to have over the next year to go and play the dream. “That week was almost about proving to myself that I can compete on that stage and go and tee it up with players that I’ll be going up against in the next year. There’s no doubt that gives me a lot of confidence for the year that’s coming. “The big goal for me is to qualify for the Genesis Scottish Open. It’s my home event and close to my home town, so that’s the one I’m really looking forward to, even though I don’t know if I’ll be in it or not yet.”
Cameron Adam represented GB&I at the Walker Cup at Cypress Point this year.
HotelPlanner card earners
The next three players in the final Global Amateur Pathway Ranking – English pair Dominic Clemons and Charlie Forster and Kristian Hjort Bressum of Denmark – all earned HotelPlanner Tour cards for the 2026 season. 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. Under the Global Amateur Pathway, the best eligible non-collegiate male amateur within the top 20 of the WAGR® during the Ranking period receives a DP World Tour card for the following 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®. To be eligible to register for the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking, amateur golfers must meet the following criteria:- Not be a current NCAA Division-I player.
- 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.