DP World Tour Qualifying School reached a dramatic climax on Wednesday, with four HotelPlanner Tour players securing playing privileges on Golf’s Global Tour for the 2026 season.
The headline maker at INFINTUM was Englishman Eddie Pepperell, who returned to the HotelPlanner Tour at the start of the year for the first time since 2012. Following 11 starts, the two-time DP World Tour winner’s season ended at the Italian Open Challenge after he finished outside the cut-off for back-to-back events in China.
However, after coming through Second Stage Qualifying School at Fontanals Golf Club, Pepperell returned to INFINITUM, 12 months after he missed out by one shot at Final Stage Qualifying.
Having pieced together rounds of 70-71-67-68-67 during the first five days of the six-round marathon, the 34-year-old found himself outside the top 20 and ties midway through the final round and on course to narrowly miss out again.
Yet, with four holes left to play, the Englishman showed his class to piece together a stunning finish, which included four consecutive birdies, to finish 19 under par for the week and comfortably inside the top 20.
“I’m pretty proud of myself actually,” he said. “That was a tough day [with] a great finish.
“I didn’t have too many goals coming into these two weeks. I was just looking forward to playing some golf to be quite honest and hoping that I would play well.
“This week felt like a bit of a struggle at times and never more so than today midway through the round, but I really hung in there. I am delighted.”
American Davis Bryant, who split his schedule between the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour this year, also had to battle during Wednesday’s final round at INFINITUM.
Teeing off in the final group alongside runaway leader Zander Lombard from South Africa and Australian Connor McKinney, Bryant ran into trouble towards the end of his back nine after dropping four shots in as many holes. Another dropped shot on the 13th left the American needing a big finish to secure playing privileges on Golf’s Global Tour.
Under pressure to deliver, Bryant made back-to-back birdies on holes 16 and 17 to finish on 20 under par for the week and comfortably inside the top 20 and ties. The American, who finished 35th on the 2025 Road to Mallorca, was delighted with how he turned his fortunes around in Tarragona.
“It’s hard out there when you’re by yourself and lots of emotions are going through your head,” he said.
“I’m super happy with how I bounced back on the back nine. I knew exactly what was going on. I made two great birdies on 16 and 17 and that was huge.
“I just kept telling myself I’m good enough to be here and good enough to get through. I’ve had some setbacks the last couple of months. I just kept reminding myself that I am here for a reason and that I’ve hit these shots plenty of times.”
DP World Tour winner Adri Arnaus also produced a late flurry to ensure his return to Golf’s Global Tour after spending a solitary year on the HotelPlanner Tour in 2025. The Spaniard, who posted a season-high finish of fourth at the UAE Challenge, birdied three of his final four holes to reach 19 under par for the week to finish two shots inside the top 20.
“I’m feeling quite relieved,” he said. It’s been a stressful day and week after a long season. I’m proud of how I fought out there.
“At one point today I was over-complicating things and at that point I felt I had to go for it, and it turned out great with a good finish on the last four holes. To get back on the DP World Tour is a good accomplishment this year.
“This year I’m finally moving in the right direction and showed some consistency on the HotelPlanner Tour despite not coming through to win during the final round.”
Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith rounds off the HotelPlanner Tour players who advanced through Final Stage Qualifying in Spain. The 31-year-old, who shared the third round lead earlier in the week, carded a closing one over par round of 72 to finish 20 under par and inside the top ten.
Follett-Smith has now advanced through Final Stage Qualifying School twice in his career having done so 12 months ago.
