DP World Tour: History, Top Players, Events and Pro-Am Tournaments

Introducing the DP World Tour

The DP World Tour, formerly known as the European Tour, is one of professional golf's leading circuits featuring some of the top players in the world. The tour hosts events across five continents with high purses and prestigious tournaments that attract the game's biggest names. In 2022, the tour was renamed to the DP World Tour through a partnership with DP World, a global provider of smart logistics solutions.

History of the Tour

The DP World Tour was founded in 1972 as the Professional Golfers' Association European Tour. In its inaugural season, there were 23 events held across 12 countries with total prize money of £201,000. Over the years, the tour has expanded dramatically to become a global enterprise hostingevents in places like the Middle East, Asia, Africa and North America.

Some of the most prestigious events on the schedule include The BMW PGA Championship, the DP World Tour Championship, the Scottish Open, the Irish Open, and the flagship event - The Open Championship, golf's original major tournament first played in 1860. Past winners on the tour have included legendary players like Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Rory McIlroy, and Henrik Stenson among many others.

Top Players on the DP World Tour

As one of golf's premier tours, the DP World Tour attracts many of the game's biggest stars from around the world. While Americans often focus their schedules on the PGA Tour, top players from Europe, South Africa, Australia and Asia regularly compete in DP World Tour events.

One of the most accomplished players is Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland. McIlroy spent 95 weeks ranked as the #1 golfer in the world and has won four major championships along with three DP World Tour Race to Dubai season titles. Other top veterans include Ireland's Shane Lowry, England's Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and Australia's Jason Day.

An exciting new generation of young stars are also making names for themselves like Norway's Viktor Hovland, America's Collin Morikawa, Chile's Joaquin Niemann and Spain's John Rahm. These rising talents are expected to become household names in the coming years.

The DP World Tour Schedule

The DP World Tour season kicks off in November each year with the Joburg Open in South Africa. Over the next 11 months, events are held across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and North America culminating with the final playoff tournaments in November to determine the DP World Tour rankings and prize money leaders.

Prominent Tournaments

From January through August, the schedule features traditional European Tour stops like the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the BMW International Open, the Irish Open and the Scottish Open. One unique tournament is the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship played over three iconic Scottish courses including the famous Old Course at St Andrews.

Beginning in September, the DP World Tour links up with the PGA Tour for some co-sanctioned events. The highlight of these tournaments is undoubtedly The Open Championship, golf's oldest major dating back to 1860. Britsh Open venues rotate between 10 classic links courses in England and Scotland steeped in history and renowned for their challenging weather conditions.

The Race to Dubai Playoffs

In November, the DP World Tour season concludes with the final three tournaments known as the Rolex Series, named after the luxury watch sponsorship partner. These high-stakes Asian events carry larger purses and bonus pools offering the last opportunities for players to move up the money list and rankings.

The season finale is the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai where the Race to Dubai champion - the Golfer of the Year - is crowned. Recent winners include Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson and Rory McIlroy who took the first prize five times over his illustrious career.

Pro-Am Tournaments

A unique aspect of many DP World Tour events are the pro-am competitions held during tournament week. Amateur golfers and celebrities pay to play alongside the pros during these friendly warmup rounds while raising money for charity. Players rotate between groups, providing a more intimate fan experience while gearing up for the main event.

Finding the Right Partner

Playing as an amateur in these pro-ams can be a dream come true for many fans and club golfers. Scoring a popular player like Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood or Ian Poulter as your partner would make for an unforgettable experience. But finding the right pro to team up is important to make sure your games are evenly matched.

Getting a strong player who doesn't take the round too seriously would provide the best experience. Easy going pros like Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer or Joaquin Niemann would likely provide an enjoyable day. Meanwhile, playing with an intense competitor like Jon Rahm or Bryson DeChambeau may prove frustrating for an amateur struggling to keep pace.

Enjoying the Experience

Ultimately, pro-am days are meant to be entertaining even if the golf isn't always pretty. Keeping a relaxed mindset allows ams to soak in the atmosphere and enjoyment playing alongside the best. Establishing realistic expectations and not taking yourself too seriously ensures a great experience.

Making conversation with your pro between shots can provide invaluable memories. And remember that the true purpose of these events is fundraising for important causes. So relish the chance to make new friends and create stories regardless of the scores posted.

FAQs

When was the DP World Tour founded?

The DP World Tour was founded in 1972 under the name Professional Golfers' Association European Tour. It was renamed to the DP World Tour in 2022 after a new partnership with DP World.

How many majors do DP World Tour players compete in?

DP World Tour players compete in one of golf's four major championships - The Open Championship (British Open). This is golf's original major played on classic links courses in Great Britain.

Where is the season-ending DP World Tour Championship played?

The season finale DP World Tour Championship is played in Dubai in November. This tournament determines the Race to Dubai champion and Golfer of the Year who wins the season-long points race.

What makes the pro-am tournaments unique?

Pro-am tournaments allow amateur golfers and celebrities to play alongside the professional golfers during the days leading up to DP World Tour events, often raising money for charity.