After a two week break, the HotelPlanner Tour returns next week with back-to-back events in China. There are several different storylines to look out for across the two weeks, from players battling to make it to the season-ending Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A, those looking to jump inside the promotion place, or players vying to finish the season as Number One. Here’s what’s at stake…
Top 68
The top 68 available players on the Road to Mallorca secured their place in the field for both weeks in Asia, with the Hainan Open the first stop in China before the HotelPlanner Tour heads north to Hangzhou.
Czechia’s Filip Mruzek, ranked 73rd on the Road to Mallorca, is the last man in the field on 249 points, 126 points adrift of the projected cut-off for the Rolex Grand Final.
With an increased prize pool and additional Ranking points on offer at both events in China, all 68 players in the field could boost their DP World Tour promotion credentials should they have a good week in either event.
Top 46
Due to American Davis Bryant attempting to improve his DP World Tour status over the next two weeks, starting at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, the top 46 available players on the Road to Mallorca Rankings are currently projected to make it into the Rolex Grand Final at Club de Golf Alcanada, following the conclusion of the Hangzhou Open at Westlake Golf Club.
Currently occupying the last Grand Final spot is two-time DP World Tour winner Julien Quesne. The Frenchman started his season on home soil at the Bloy Play9 and has steadily climbed the Rankings since, reaching as high as 31st following a second place finish at the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A. Looking to return to Golf’s Global Tour for the first time in eight years, Quesne will need to fend off those directly behind him in China if he’s to confirm his spot in Mallorca.
One of those players is Dane Anders Emil Ejlersen who sits 50th on the Road to Mallorca and will be looking to capitalise on a memorable second half of the season. The 26-year-old became a first-time winner on the HotelPlanner Tour at the Dormy Open, having only received an invited into the tournament late on the Sunday prior. Following a whirlwind two months, Ejlersen now finds himself just 15 points adrift of a Rolex Grand Final berth and could become one of the stories of 2025 should he confirm his place in Mallorca.
Top 20
All 68 HotelPlanner Tour players in China have an opportunity to finish inside the top 20 on the Road to Mallorca and earn graduation to the DP World Tour. South African JC Ritchie has already secured automatic promotion following his third victory of the season at the Italian Challenge Open and the current Number One will be joined by 19 other golfers following the conclusion of the Rolex Grand Final.
Given what’s at stake in a matter of weeks in Mallorca, the upcoming events in China hold added significance. Last year, Hamish Brown and Conor Purcell, both victorious in China, earned DP World Tour promotion the same year, while Angel Ayora and Oliver Lindell – runners up in Hangzhou – have gone on to thrive since making the step up.
Those around the top 20 bubble include Danish duo Victor Sidal Svendsen and Jonathan Gøth-Rasmussen. Sidal Svendsen sits 29 points ahead of South African Jovan Rebula, who sits outside the promotion places in 21st position. Gøth-Rasmussen, who tasted victory on home soil at the Danish Golf Challenge in May, occupies 18th place on 557 points, 11 ahead of Italian Stefano Mazzoli in 19th.
South African Wilco Nienaber, American Palmer Jackson and England’s David Horsey, all winners on the HotelPlanner Tour this year, are among the players outside the promotion places but within touching distance of Sidal Svendsen.
The race to become Number One
Those inside the top ten on the Rankings will feel good about their chances of joining Ritchie on Golf’s Global Tour next year and even end 2025 as Number One.
The South African has accumulated 1518 points, 112 more than Scotsman David Law, who is one victory away from matching Ritchie’s three wins and securing automatic promotion. A further 257 points back of Law sits Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy who has enjoyed a breakthrough season which has included seven top ten finishes and one victory.
Italian duo Filippo Celli and Renato Paratore, Scot Daniel Young and Englishman Josh Berry are all over 550 points back of Ritchie and will need to hit top form in China if they’re to end the year at the summit.
Spaniard Rocco Repetto Taylor is 12th on the Rankings, 859 points back of Ritchie, but will head to China in good form after registering three top 15 finishes in his last four starts.
