James Morrison sealed a fairytale return to the DP World Tour after securing victory at the Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A, while JC Ritchie topped the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
Englishman Morrison signed for a two under par final round of 70 to reach 15 under par for the week at Club de Golf Alcanada and win by three shots from Italian Stefano Mazzoli.
The 40-year-old climbs 30 places on the Road to Mallorca Rankings to end the season as the Number Six and guarantee his return to Golf’s Global Tour in 2026.
The two-time DP World Tour winner becomes the seventh Englishman to win the Rolex Grand Final after Marco Penge (2023), Nathan Kimsey (2022), Matt Haines (2010), James Hepworth (2006), Richard Bland (2001) and Ian Garbutt (1996).
Morrison started the day with a three-shot lead after firing a bogey-free seven under 65 on day three, and mixed two birdies with two bogeys on the front nine on Sunday to remain in front.
The 40-year-old, who had 13-year-old son Finley caddying for him in Mallorca, then made three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 11th to extend his advantage, and despite a bogey on 18, would remain three clear of the chasing pack.
Morrison was delighted to be heading back to the DP World Tour with his son alongside him in Mallorca, and says experience was key on the final day.
Ritchie made history in Mallorca by becoming the first player from South Africa to be crowned HotelPlanner Tour Number One after finishing seventh at Club de Golf Alcanada.
The 31-year-old secured automatic promotion to the DP World Tour in September after winning for the third time in the space of five HotelPlanner Tour starts.
Scotland’s David Law, a two-time winner on the HotelPlanner Tour this season, ends the year as the Number Two, with Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner, who earned a breakthrough win on home soil in July, graduating in third.
Italian Renato Paratore equalled Ritchie’s tally of three wins this season to end it as the Number Four, with 20-year-old Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy in fifth.
Morrison made the biggest leap in the Rankings during the season’s final week to finish sixth, with Italian Fillipo Celli seventh and his countryman Mazzoli climbing ten places to eighth with his second-place finish in Mallorca.
South African Daniel van Tonder won the first two events of the 2025 season and ends the year as the Number Nine, while Spaniard Sebastian Garcia, who won the penultimate event of the season, is tenth.
Scotland’s Daniel Young, Frenchman Félix Mory, and Englishman Joshua Berry, who all won in 2025, end the season in 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.
Scotsman Euan Walker secured graduation in 14th place after coming agonisingly close to promotion in each of the last three seasons, with Spaniard Quim Vidal (15th) joining him on the DP World Tour in 2026.
Sweden’s Hugo Townsend and Tobias Jonsson finish in 16th and 17th, Spain’s Rocco Repetto Taylor graduates in 18th and Frenchman Clement Charmasson ends the year 19th.
Swede Albin Bergstrom, with a tied third finish in the Rolex Grand Final, climbs 20 places in the Rankings to secure the final promotion place.
Player quotes
James Morrison: When I said this was going to be my last event, it really was going to be, 100 percent. This has completely messed that up.
I’m glad it’s over with. I played nicely all week. Didn’t play as well today but managed my emotions and dug into my memory bank with my wins on the DP World Tour. The wind blowing really helped me today because I knew, the harder it got, the more it would play into my hands a little bit. I knew if I could keep ticking along, I could get away from the field a bit.
I stayed calm and stayed with it. I couldn’t feel my arms on my swing at the last, it went so far right, but I couldn’t care less. A win is a win.
I feel sorry for him (Finley) really. He’s got a half past six alarm for school tomorrow morning. He’s amazing. I love him. He did so well.
JC Ritchie: It hasn’t really sunk in. I don’t understand what I’ve done. I think I’ve had an unbelievable season. When I fly back home, or maybe even tonight, I’ll sit down and have a think. It’s been a dream season for me. It was something that one of my first coaches told me, when I was preparing to be on Tour. He said to try to be the best on every Tour before you level up or try to be in the top ten. I managed to win the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, and then it’s taken time to learn how to play out here and compete.
I’m really chuffed with the work I’ve done. This has been an awesome opportunity for us to be able to graduate to the DP World Tour. I’ve really worked hard.
I’m not the person I was last year. I’m happier with my game, I know what I’m doing and I’m glad I’ve managed to prove to myself that I’m good enough play out here and compete at a higher level.
I can’t wait. I’d like to start playing on the DP World Tour next week. Part of the system I’ve had this year is taking nice breaks between events and planning a steady schedule, so I’ll have some time back home to enjoy with the family now before the last stretch before Christmas. Hopefully I can keep the momentum going.
