Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion Confirms He Will Give Up Major Starts In Favor Of Immediate DP World Tour Chance
China's Wenyi Ding confirmed he will be leaving college and giving up starts at The Masters and The Open Championship in favor of immediately starting his pro career


Asia-Pacific Amateur champion Wenyi Ding has confirmed his immediate plans to leave college and give up two guaranteed starts at Majors in 2025 in favor of turning pro on the DP World Tour.
Ding claimed the biggest title of his career so far at the Taiheiyo Club in Gotemba, Japan on Sunday, defeating fellow countryman Ziqin Zhou by one stroke after four consecutive rounds of 67 (-3) left him on 12-under. This victory arrived in dramatic circumstances, too - 12 months on from defeat to Jasper Stubbs in a playoff - with Ding holing a birdie putt on his 71st hole to take the outright lead.
The former US Junior champion's latest triumph earned him the right to tee it up at The Masters, The Open Championship, and The Amateur Championship in 2025, but he will have to qualify for the Majors another way after revealing he was sticking to his pre-tournament promise of turning pro and joining the DP World Tour with immediate effect via the Global Amateur Pathway route.
Launched in June, the Global Amateur Pathway offers one DP World Tour card to the "leading non-collegiate golfer" - someone who is not a current NCAA Division-I player and turns 20 years old before the end of the calendar year. Ding is currently 19 but turns 20 in November.
While he currently fits into the criteria, that will not be the case for much longer. Ding enjoyed a superb freshman campaign at ASU - the former college of Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm - and is set to move up among the very best college players out there.
A post shared by Ding Wenyi (@dingwenyigolf)
A photo posted by on
In just his second appearance for the Sun Devils, Ding won the Amer Ari Invitational by nine strokes on 27-under - a college record. Meanwhile, he scored three more top-five finishes in seven starts. The 19-year-old also triumphed at the Southern Amateur in July to reach World No.4 in the WAGR, and he will now move even higher after reaching the top of the Global Amateur Pathway ranking.
Even before his win in Japan, Ding confirmed to Golf Digest that he was going to turn pro no matter what happened at the Asia-Pacific Amateur - arguing that the opportunity to begin his professional career in such solid circumstances outweighed the prospect of waiting months for two potentially one-off starts.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
He said: "I was really struggling to choose this one. I talked a lot with my coaches, with my friends, my agent. I think it's really hard to get a [tour] card for a young player. This was probably the only chance [at the pathway], and I should take it.”
He continued: "Yeah, it was difficult, but I can’t sacrifice [DP World Tour status] to wait for the Masters [and Open]. I know it's a great [opportunity] for an amateur player, but I'm going to turn pro.
"[Hopefully], I can get in [those two majors] by myself. [I want to] learn how to be a professional player and keep improving. I want to try to make the cut at every tournament and, if I have a chance, try to win.”
As it turned out, the top-ranked player in the APAC field did have to give up those two Majors starts in 2025. Explaining to Amanda Renner during his post-round interview on Sunday what was going through his head all week - an emotional Ding admitted he always knew what the end goal was and used that to spur him on.
Hear from our champion 🏆An emotional moment as Wenyi Ding realises he's the 2024 Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion. pic.twitter.com/mtca4N2eG0October 6, 2024
He said: "This means a lot. It's my last amateur event, and if I play badly then I probably lose my card for the DP World Tour. So there was a lot of pressure. No player can feel no pressure in a tournament, so this has been awesome."
Ding continued: "I'm really grateful for this tournament. I told myself 'it's your last one, you have to be good.'"
The Chinese golfer follows a similar path to Christo Lamprecht, the 6ft8in South African golfer who won The Amateur Championship in 2023 and who competed at The Masters earlier this year before turning pro and losing his spot at the US Open as a result.
Lamprecht joined the Korn Ferry Tour in 2024 but struggled overall and ended the season 140th after missing seven cuts out of the 10 events he appeared in.
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
How To Watch The Players Championship: Live Streams, TV Channels, Schedule
This year will be the sixth running of the event, with 23 nationalities competing and with the final round played around Augusta National's iconic course.
By Roderick Easdale Published
-
Sun Day Red Launches Azalea Gold Collection, And It Might Be The Best 'Augusta-Themed' Range We Have Seen
Tiger Woods' brand has just released the new collection and we are big fans already...
By Sam Tremlett Published
-
'I Can't Believe I'm Saying This' - Tiger Woods Hints At Shock Augusta Appearance Before Revealing True State Of His Achilles In April Fools Joke
Woods was apparently keen not to miss out on the whimsical nature of April 1 by posting a playful update on his recovery from Achilles surgery
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'The People Can’t Get Enough Of Him. We Can’t Get Enough Of Him. It Would Be Sad That He Wouldn’t Come Back Here And Play In The Future' - Major Champions Call On Tiger Woods To Become 'Ceremonial' Masters Player Once He Retires
Two-time US Open winners Andy North and Curtis Strange responded to questions about Tiger Woods' future in golf prior to the 89th Masters tournament
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Rory McIlroy's Masters Odds Slashed Despite Northern Irishman Complaining Of Minor Elbow Issue
The Northern Irishman is being heavily backed by golf fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland ahead of his latest attempt at completing the career Grand Slam
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'It's The Place Every Single Golfer Wants To Be' - Angel Cabrera Discusses His Controversial Return To The Masters After Prison
2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera has spoken about his impending return to Augusta National for the first time since being released from prison
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
How Eugenio Chacarra Can Qualify For A PGA Tour Card Following Indian Open Success
Eugenio Chacarra secured his DP World Tour card with victory at the Hero Indian Open, but what does it mean for his chances of making it to the PGA Tour?
By Mike Hall Published
-
Ex-Prisoner And Australian Bike Gang Member Locks Up DP World Tour Card
Once imprisoned for assault, Ryan Peake went on to win the New Zealand Open earlier this year and has now wrapped up a DP World Tour card for 2026
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Former LIV Golfer Eugenio Chacarra Earns Full DP World Tour Status Via Hero Indian Open Victory
The Spaniard carded a final-round 71 to triumph by two strokes and wrap up his card just months after being dropped by the LIV Golf League
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
'Tiger Did Some Stuff In 2000...But Scottie’s Year Was The Best We’ve Ever Seen' - Bubba Watson Sparks Debate With Controversial Scheffler Claim
Bubba Watson has sparked a huge golfing debate after claiming Scottie Scheffler's 2024 season was better than Tiger Woods' all-conquering 2000 campaign
By Paul Higham Published