Adrien Saddier may be disappointed with a second close call in as many weeks, but a play-off loss to Alex Noren at the BMW PGA Championship means he is Locked In for the DP World Tour Play-offs.
The Frenchman jumped up eight spots to third in the Race to Dubai Rankings, just 373.91 points behind Marco Penge in second, with the top 70 qualifying for the penultimate Rolex Series event at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The top 50 following the week at Yas Links will then head to the season finale at the DP World Tour Championship.
Saddier, who earned his first professional victory at the 2016 Fred Olsen Challenge de Espana, has spent four separate spells on the DP World Tour in his career. He most recently graduated for a third time from DP World Tour Qualifying School at the end of the 2022 season, with two top 100 finishes in the Rankings the past two years.
This season has been something of a breakthrough for him, claiming his maiden title on his 200th career start on the DP World Tour earlier this year in Italy, which in turn earned him his first start in a Major Championship at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Boasting six top tens this season, the BMW PGA Championship was a second consecutive week at the top end of the leaderboard for Saddier, who held a one-shot leading heading into the final round of the Amgen Irish Open before going toe to toe with Noren at Wentworth Club. The Frenchman fell away to fifth in Ireland but pushed Noren all the way, ultimately beaten by a birdie on the first play-off hole.
Eugenio Chacarra, who played alongside Saddier during his victory in Italy, is also Locked In, helped by his own maiden victory at the Hero Indian Open earlier this year.
Playing on a sponsor’s invitation in just his ninth DP World Tour start, Chacarra not only assured playing privileges through to the end of next season but also cemented himself in a brilliant position for a spot in the DP World Tour Play-Offs. He backed it up with top tens at both the Volvo China Open and Hainan Classic to consolidate a second-place finish in the Asian Swing, with another top ten at the Italian Open.
More recently, Chacarra tied for 38th at last week’s BMW PGA Championship, and currently sits at 27th on the Race to Dubai Rankings.
One spot above him in 26th is Australian Elvis Smylie, rounding out a trio of first-time winners this season that are Locked In for the Play-Offs.
Smylie earned the distinction of becoming the first winner on the 2025 Race to Dubai when he
sealed his maiden DP World Tour title on home soil at the BMW Australian PGA Championship. It came just weeks after he jumped into the limelight with first professional victory on the PGA TOUR of Australasia, and was in contention again the following week with a top five at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
While his season has been peppered with both good results and missed cuts, the 23-year-old has consistently stayed inside the top 30 on the Rankings. With a recent tie for sixth at the Danish Golf Championship, more Major experience and a tie for 31st at last week’s BMW PGA Championship, Smylie maintained his position on the Race to Dubai Rankings and is set for his first DP World Tour Play-Offs.
Players who are Locked In for the DP World Tour Play-Offs
Rory McIlroy
Marco Penge
Adrien Saddier
Tyrrell Hatton
Alex Noren
Kristoffer Reitan
Haotong Li
John Parry
Laurie Canter
Martin Couvra
Jordan Smith
Matt Fitzpatrick
Robert MacIntyre
Adrien Saddier
Justin Rose
Patrick Reed
Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen
Keita Nakajima
Daniel Brown
Shaun Norris
Daniel Hillier
Joakim Lagergren
Rasmus Højgaard
Viktor Hovland
Thriston Lawrence
Jacques Kruyswijk
Elvis Smylie
Eugenio Chacarra
* List does not include all players who have qualified for the DP World Tour Play-Offs
For the full Race to Dubai Rankings, click here.
