Zander Lombard Dominates At DP World Tour Q-School As Tour Cards For 2026 Are Finalized

GOOD MORNING ALL

Hello all, and welcome to Golf Monthly's final round coverage of DP World Tour Q-School, where we are in for a tense day here in Tarragona, Spain.

A total of 20 players, and ties, will earn DP World Tour cards for the 2026 season and, as the final group gets underway, the cut off mark is, currently, 16-under, with 47 players sat 10-under or better starting the final round.

In terms of the leader, Zander Lombard leads by seven going into the final round, with the South African searching for an instant return to the DP World Tour after losing his card.

Expect plenty of changes on Infinitum Golf's Lakes Course today, on what should be a thrilling final round!

NEWS ON THE LEADER

Zander Lombard (now -30) has taken complete control in Spain and holds a eight-shot lead. What a fightback this has been. An ACL rupture and medial meniscus tear sustained playing padel last year put him out for almost eight months.

The South African returned to action in January. However, he didn't register a top-10 across his 23 starts on the Race to Dubai and lost his full playing privileges.

He'll surely about to put all that behind him. Starts the final round with a birdie.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

Here's the man they're all trying to catch in Spain. However, after that birdie at the 1st, it's looking very unlikely that anyone will.

LEADERBOARD UPDATE

LOMBARD, Zander -31
FOLLETT-SMITH, Benjamin - 23
MCKINNEY, Connor -23
BRYANT, Davis -23
RODRIGUES, Daniel -21
DEBOVE, Quentin -20
COCKERILL, Aaron -20
SHARMA, Shubhankar -20
KIMSEY, Nathan -19

GIVE ZANDER HIS CARD NOW

Birdie-birdie start for Zander. The seven time DP World Tour runner-up leads by eight. Give him his card now and let him go home for Christmas early.

There are fast starts everywhere. I've played Infinitum several times and don't remember birdies being quite so easy to come by. American Davis Bryant is also -2 through two and well placed at -23.

ELSEWHERE...

It's a huge day in Spain, and some big names find themselves in a real battle for their playing privileges. Spain's Adri Arnaus is one of those. The winner of the Catalunya Championship in 2022 finds himself at -18 (10th) and Eddie Pepperell -16 (17th).

EDDIE UPDATE

The popular Englishman, a player with two DP World Tour wins to his name, was quick out of the blocks to day with birdies at 2 & 3. Five straight pars since. He's in a decent position, but he can't afford many slip-ups, not with such a bunched leaderboard.

CHRIS WOOD'S STRUGGLES

It doesn't matter what you've achieved in this game, sometimes it's just tough - and it kicks you in the.... Chris Wood, another very likeable chap, bowed out after four rounds. At least he's out there giving it a go, and we wish him well. He's had his struggles, remember.

This was from his DP World Tour player blog last year...

"I was just riddled with anxiety and fear and tension from the moment I left home for a tournament. It was 24/7 during tournament weeks, I was extremely anxious and not sleeping and it becomes a vicious cycle"

Keep it up, Woody, you'll be back.

LOMBARD AWAY AND GONE

Zander is putting on a class performance. He's yet to win on the DP World Tour. Does this count? I think not, not as an official win, but perhaps it should do... six rounds with the pressure on, very impressive stuff.

DOING JUST ABOUT ENOUGH

Back to Eddie. Not much wiggle room. He's got some bottle, though, and he's going to need it on the back nine.

ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR ZANDER

I will at some stage refer to him as Xander - so apologies in advance. He is, however, playing like World No. 3 Xander Schauffele right now. Another birdie at the 5th and he gets it to -32 (officially the first time I've written that number).

SCORE CHECK

I'm not sure what the record is at Infinitum. Edoardo Molinari, last year's winner, made it to -29 for his six rounds. Zander Lombard is currently -31. He's just made a rare bogey. The South African has a good few lives to spare - no damage done. 96 holes, 10 bogeys, no doubles, 37 birdies, two eagles, 47 pars.

CREAM RISING TO THE TOP

So we have Lombard at the top on -31 and now Shubhankar Sharma up into a share of second, thanks for four birdies in the opening six holes of round six. The two-time DP World Tour winner, the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year in 2018, has been struggling this year but seems to have found his swing at just the right time.

ZANDER REMAINS -32

Our friends on the DP World Tour may have just make a mistake with that bogey - which wasn't. Maybe they're trying to create a bit of drama. There is none, not so far as the lead is concerned, with the South African leading by nine with 11 holes to play. Let's focus then on the battle for the other 19 cards...

IT'S TIGHT

Five players T14 on -17. Seven players T19 on -16. Three players T26 on -15.

HANGING IN THERE

Frederico Biondi Figueiredo from Brazil is on track to secure a card having come through all three stages of Q-School.

LOMBARD RACING FURTHER CLEAR

Make that -4 through eight (-33). This might be a six-round affair, but that doesn't make the 10-shot lead any less impressive. The only thing stopping Lombard playing on the DP World Tour next year is a game of padel (we shouldn't joke, as that was one very nasty injury). Maybe leave the racquet sports until you're retired, though, Zander.

HOLES RUNNING OUT....

Eddie Pepperell now finds himself in trouble. No birdies since the 3rd on another day of lowing scoring is not what's required, and it's just got worse with a bogey on the 12th. Five holes left and he desperately need to take advantage of the two remaining par 5s on the Lakes course. Eddie is currently T25.

OUT IN 30

I can't stop updating you on Zander Lombard because it's just so impressive. He makes the turn in 30 after another birdie on the 9th. He's home and dry, basically, and is surely now on course to break every Q School record.

HOW THINGS STAND

Expect a few changes over the next couple of hours as things get even more tight (except at the very top, obviously).

NINE PLAYERS AT 17-UNDER

How tight are things right now? Well, as of writing, a total of nine players find themselves at 17-under, which equals a tie for 15th!

We have the back nine to go, but this is going to be an enthralling finish here at the Infinitum Golf's Lakes Course...

BIRDIE AT THE 15TH FOR EDDIE

He will need to find a few more birdies over the final few holes, but Pepperell has just birdied the 15th to move to two-under for the day and 16-under for the tournament.

Currently, he sits tied 24th, just outside the required positions, with the Englishman faced with a par 5, par 3 and par 5 finish to set a target in the clubhouse.

THREE-WAY TIE FOR SECOND

A two-time winner on the DP World Tour, Sharma is one of the more experienced players in the field and, thanks to a four-under front nine, he finds himself in a share of second spot.

He is 23-under and alongside Aaron Cockerill and Connor McKinney, who have both started the back nine well this afternoon, sitting under-par as of now.

LOGJAM

A huge group of players now at -17 (T15). Marc Warren is in with a 66 and is one of eight players on that score. There are also five players at -16, which isn't currently good enough (T23).

FEELING THE PRESSURE

I mentioned Adri Arnaus earlier as one of the big name players battling for his card. He's a DP World Tour winner and looked on course to go from strength to strength a couple of years ago. However, he's made four bogeys today, the most recent one coming on 13, which puts him outside the top 20.

SCORING VERY LOW

If you're not making birdies today, you're heading backwards. Not many players are over par, though. Benjamin Follett-Smith is one of the few. The Zimbabwean made a double on the 9th, although he still has a little breathing room, as does Davis Bryant who continues to slip back. Three straight pars from the American to start the back nine has steadied the ship after four dropped shots in four holes.

It's getting tense...

JOINT-LOWEST ROUND ON THE COURSE

Aaron Cockerill will soon be able to put his feet up and relax after a fine week's work. Just the one blemish on the card today - a bogey on the 9th - after which he reeled off three birdies in four holes. The Canadian is -6 on the day and -24 overall.

WHAT'S THE NUMBER?

Lombard's -35 (now 11 clear) is going to be safe, I'm quite sure of that. -17 looks to be the number to get to. Pepperell finishes in style (-19), reeling off four straight birdies. Class.

EDDIE'S CLASSY FINISH

Whatever doubts Eddie had going into this week, he'll surely be feeling on top of the world right now. That bogey on 12 put the Englishman under real pressure, but just look at that finish. I think we can safely say card safely secured.

YULE LOOKING GOOD

Jack Yule also finished strongly. The Englishman caps off a fine week with a birdie on the 18th hole. Home in 32 looks to have got the job done.

SHARMA DOING ENOUGH

Despite a bogey on 12, India's Shubhankar Sharma looks to have done enough. All of his good work came on the front nine. Four holes to play. Pars will do it and even the odd bogey wouldn't be a disaster.

LEAKING OIL

It's not such good news for Davis Bryant. I mentioned his worrying finish to the front nine earlier. Four shots went in four holes, and he's just dropped another at 13. After opening with two birdies, he was in a very lofty position. Now, with just four holes to play, the nervy American will be looking over his shoulder. One more bogey and he'll slip out of the top 20 - that's how tight things have become.

MORE APPRECIATION FOR PEPPS

Ah, nice. Go on, treat yourself to a cold one, Eddie.

THIS SHOULD BE ON THE TELE

The only reason I can think of that this isn't live on television is because it will cause extreme anxiety for some viewers. I love watching tour golf, but some 72-hole tournaments pass by without a lot of drama/tension, especially when you're watching players who have already banked millions of dollars. Q-School is pure theatre. I feel for these guys, even those who have enjoyed success already on the DP World Tour. Battling for their livelihoods.

-17 NO LONGER GOOD ENOUGH

Which is bad news for John Gough, Alexander Levy, Baard Skogen, and Marc Warren.

SOUND THE BOGEY ALARM

We've not heard this a lot today, but Zander is obviously dreaming of the 2026 season already. A rare bogey from the South African on the 15th has ruined his perfect card. By my calculations, he can still afford to drop 16 shots on the last three holes. Of course, he won't want to do that.

A NEW NO.1 AUSSIE?

It takes a brave man to don the Cam Smith pink, but this is impressive stuff from young Connor. The Australian qualified for The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in 2023, and played most of his golf on the PGA TOUR of Australasia. Earlier this year, he was winning on Scotland's Tartan Tour. After opening Q-School with a faultless 62, the Scottish-born Aussie is now up to tied second.

BRYANT HANGING IN THERE

The American, who opened with two birdies, has dropped five shots since the 3rd with no further gains. It's seen him drop down the leaderboard like a stone. He'd settle for three pars on the last three holes. With two par 5s, I'm backing him to hold his nerve.

Fellow American, Hunter Logan, looks to have done enough with a very tidy -4 today. -18 should be good enough.

WELL PLAYED, MATTHEW

I'm going to call Matthew Baldwin a stalwart, but I mean it with the greatest of respect. A pro since 2008, and a DP World Tour veteran (he also has a win to his name), Matt has just finished birdie-eagle to secure his playing rights. Take a bow.

EMOTIONAL EDDIE

Understandably, Eddie is quite emotional after that finish. He won't be the last person to tear up today.

CREAM STILL RISING

I said it earlier and I'll say it again: the cream usually rises to the top, especially in situations like this over six long, gruelling days. Adri Arnaus, who knows what it's like to win on the DP World Tour, put himself under a bit of pressure with four bogeys today, but three birdies in a row from 15-17 has secured him his card.

LOMBARD TO -36

Go home, Zander, this is getting silly - and take your card with you! I think that two at the penultimate hole is his 42nd birdie of the week - plus he's had two eagles.

SOME HARD LUCK STORIES

With -17 looking like it's not going to be good enough, there will be quite a few players feeling a little sick tonight. Being in a situation where you need to rely on invites is never good for planning. I'm looking at the guys at -17 (currently T21) thinking there will be quite a bit of frustration at how the day has gone.

Alexander Levy, for example, a five-time winner on the DP World Tour, could only manage a 69 (-2) today. Pars at 16 and 18 (both par 5s).

BRYANT FIGHTS BACK

Oh, brilliant. Just when it was looking a bit grim for the American, he birdies 16 and 17. Barring a major disaster at the last, he's safe.

GREAT DRAMA ON THE LAKES

No one can say this course doesn't provide drama. We've seen some superb finishes today, with plenty of chances comes over the closing stages. Here's that cracking finish from Matt Baldwin.

-37

Aaaaaand, we're done. Obviously Zander birdies the 18th. Exhibition stuff on the final day. Tiger-esque.

HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE

Well played, Mr Lombard. Well played. Just look at that scorecard.

IMPRESSIVE BOUNCEBACK

And here's that response to the bogey from Davis Bryant. Card secured. Must be a nice feeling when you know you can deliver under the pump.

REACTION COMING IN...

It's fair to say Canadian Aaron Cockerill has his fans.

WHAT A PERFORMANCE FROM ZANDER

ANOTHER CLUTCH FINISH

GREAT COURSE, GREAT DRAMA

Joaquín Mora Bertrán, deputy general manager at INFINITUM, says: “Q-School is the highlight of our golfing calendar and an event that means a great deal to everyone here.

“I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the DP World Tour for allowing us to host once again, and to our exceptional greenkeeping team who work tirelessly to ensure both courses are in tournament condition throughout the week. Their dedication and attention to detail are central to the success of this event.”

And Mike Stewart, director of Qualifying School, says: “We would like to thank everyone at INFINITUM for hosting another outstanding Final Stage of Qualifying School. The feedback from players and caddies has been extremely positive, particularly regarding the condition and setup of both the Hills and Lakes courses.

“The recent enhancements to the Hills have added another layer of quality to what is already a world-class venue, and we are delighted to continue our partnership with INFINITUM for this important event in the golfing calendar.”

REACTION FROM ZANDER

“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it is what I came here to do. So, unreal. It’s hopefully the springboard for what the season has in store.

“It was a great week. A tough week, a long marathon… It was easy to just sit back and relax and start making a few errors, but my caddie and I were having fun, but we stayed focused the whole week and that produced the score we have on the board.

“It’s been a tough year-and-a-half. From knee surgery, learning how to walk again, to trying to find my game the last six months and then really starting to enjoy the game again the last two. It’s been trending and hopefully I can keep this form for the year to come.”

A REMINDER OF YOUR 20 QUALIFIERS...

20 cards, 16 different nationalities.

Zander Lombard (RSA)
Connor McKinney (AUS)
Shubhankar Sharma (IND)
Aaron Cockerill (CAN)
Daniel Rodrigues (POR)
Nathan Kimsey (ENG)
Quentin Debove (FRA)
Davis Bryant (USA)
Benjamin Follett-Smith (ZIM)
Matthew Baldwin (ENG)
Gregorio de Leo (ITA)
Andreas Halvorsen (NOR)
Adri Arnaus (ESP)
Eddie Pepperell (ENG)
Jack Yule (ENG)
Andres German Gallegos (ARG)
Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA)
Frederico Biondi Figueiredo (BRA)
Hunter Logan (USA)
Mike Toorop (NED)