Is The DP World Tour Really In Its 'Weakest Position Ever'?

'Inside The Ropes' is the chance for Golf Monthly's expert team to share its honest thoughts on the biggest subjects in the game. This week, it's all about the DP World Tour.

Nine-time DP World Tour winner Pablo Larrazabal has argued his home circuit is in "the weakest position we've ever been in" following two years of allowing 10 of its best players to depart for the PGA Tour.

The 10 cards initiative was introduced in 2023 as part of the Wentworth-based circuit's strategic alliance with the PGA Tour.

It gave 10 of the best non-exempt players dual status across both circuits, though it has almost exclusively been seen as a ticket to bigger and better things in America.

As a result of pros like Marco Penge, Alex Noren and the Hojgaard twins playing the majority of the campaign on US soil, fans and players alike have noticed how much weaker DP World Tour fields have become between February and August when the PGA Tour is in full swing.

Speaking to Flushing It on X, Larrazabal mostly blames the 10 cards initiative for the DP World Tour's problems, which has made it tougher to move up the OWGR due to weaker-field strength most weeks.

He said: “Those cards have to disappear. We are losing too much talent on the DP World Tour. When I started we could easily be top 50 in the world (OWGR) playing here. Now it’s tough. We’re in the weakest position we’ve ever been in probably.

“We will see what happens with the cards, I don’t know. I’ve been vocal that I want them to disappear. I always tried to fight the cards. We are weakening our company week in, week out.

“Imagine Samsung giving away their ten best employees to Apple every year. It would never happen. The company would get weaker every year and the DP World Tour is getting weaker every year.

“Look, the guys are winning on the PGA Tour and that’s good for them. It’s not good for the tour. Golf has turned very selfish the last few years. It’s an individual sport so you have to be selfish, but if we don’t all work together we’re going to get weaker.”

Although Larrazabal has made his views clear, is it the common belief among fans and those in the media as well?

Four of Golf Monthly's tour experts have had their say below, and you can too in the comments box underneath this article.

Nick Bonfield

NB: I'm not sure I agree the DP World Tour is in its weakest position ever, but it clearly plays second fiddle to the PGA Tour these days.

I also think you have to see the DPWT as almost two tours in one. In January and from September until November, the DPWT is a force to be reckoned with.

World-class players like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose frequently compete in its events and, in this period, the tournaments are more prestigious than anything the PGA Tour can offer.

However, from February to August (excluding the odd event like the Scottish Open), fields are generally poor.

NB: I did some analysis of this period a couple of years ago and it was startling how few players from the world's top-50 were in fields during these months.

There's nothing the DPWT can do, though. The PGA Tour dominates in this period, top Americans don't cross the Atlantic and prize pools are so much higher in the USA, a gap that widened during and after Covid.

I do think the 'giving players away' argument is slightly flawed, though. Yes, these golfers are often in America during the aforementioned timeframe, but they're still members of the DP World Tour.

The reality is anyone who is good enough to finish inside the top-10 on the Race to Dubai will want to have a crack at the PGA Tour, but we're not losing these players forever.

Jonny Leighfield

JL: It breaks my heart to admit it because I've grown up watching the DP World Tour and I still love it more than any other circuit, but I don't think you can deny that it is in the weakest position ever and I really do fear for its future.

The 10 cards initiative was introduced by the DP World Tour as a bargaining chip with the PGA Tour in order for part of its tournament prize money to be subsidized, but the most obvious drawback to agreeing that deal is playing out right in front of us.

Players like the Hojgaard twins, Haotong Li, Alex Noren and Marco Penge have all gone to the PGA Tour over the past few seasons when they could have been strengthening European fields during the summer months.

Yes, the DP World Tour is significantly better than the PGA Tour between September and February, but that's when the NFL is on so American audiences have their attentions elsewhere anyway.

JL: Contrary to what Nick says, I do think the DP World Tour could theoretically do something about their current plight, though it won't be easy and it's effectively why no one has bought LIV Golf yet.

It needs an alternative independent backer who can help raise prize funds closer to the PGA Tour and therefore reduce the number of players who want to move across. But that business/person doesn't seem to exist.

At the moment, more money is the biggest and most obvious reason a pro takes up PGA Tour status. Otherwise, we could argue until the cows come home about which circuit has the more prestigious titles.

For the time being, though, the DP World Tour is certainly in its weakest position ever and that doesn't look to be changing any time soon.

Elliott Heath

EH: I understand the 10 cards initiative has been controversial and the argument of a business losing its 10 best assets each year is not good - but I certainly don't think the DP World Tour is as bleak as some make out.

For a start, its biggest asset is Rory McIlroy and he is playing far more DPWT events in recent years than he has to. McIlroy is a huge believer in the European circuit and his support certainly strengthens the tour.

The 10 cards initiative also helps to grow the profiles of players who remain members anyway and, in same cases, lose their PGA Tour cards and come back full-time.

Jon Rahm has just re-joined and Ryder Cup legends Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter are on the verge of re-joining next year, too. Then there's Josele Ballester and David Puig, a number of other LIV players and the remaining core of the DP World Tour.

EH: I would say things are actually looking very good at Wentworth HQ, especially since the PIF announced it would be pulling its funding of LIV Golf.

Sure, it is miles off the PGA Tour, but there's no shame in that. It still has some great tournaments, some world class players supporting it and a constant pipeline of talent from the HotelPlanner Tour and other global circuits.

We may never return to the days of Seve, Faldo, Woosnam and Langer but I would say the tour is in a good place right now.

Matt Cradock

MC: Personally, I don't think the DP World Tour is in its weakest position ever, but I do feel changes are needed.

Let's be honest, given the money being thrown around on the PGA Tour, it's unlikely that the DP World Tour will ever compete with it like it used to; however, the time between September to January, where its biggest events take place, shows what its capable of.

Big names supporting those events help, as does the addition of LIV players joining the circuit. But, for me, the handing out of 10 PGA Tour cards is too much.

Yes, as we have seen with Kristoffer Reitan and many others, the system does work in that players have pushed on when they have made it to the PGA Tour. Losing 10 of your best players every year, though, is far too damaging for the DP World Tour.

MC: Many say it's like a conveyer belt. The DP World Tour creates these future stars from all over the world time-and-time again. The issue is the circuit then moves them on and doesn't benefit from the star power.

Like we see in football. Smaller clubs build this upcoming talent, only for the big teams to swoop in and buy them for their own gain.

Overall, I think the DP World Tour is in a good position and, depending on what occurs with the PGA Tour's changes within its scheduling, it could well start getting stronger and stronger.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Is the DP World Tour really in its weakest position ever? Let us know in the comments box below.