Retirement plans halted - James Morrison's remarkable year on path back to DP World Tour

Mathieu Wood

“When I say this was going to be my last event, that was going to be my last event, 100%. This has completely messed it up…”

As an emotional James Morrison gave his immediate reaction to winning the Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A to earn his card back on the DP World Tour for next season, the enormity of what the Englishman had achieved in Mallorca was in no doubt.

A little over 12 months on from losing his full playing privileges on the DP World Tour after a 15-year stay in which he won twice, the 40-year-old had worked his way back – perhaps to his own surprise.

Even after a campaign on the HotelPlanner Tour that had seen him celebrate the feeling of victory again in France, Morrison seemingly had arrived at Club de Golf Alcanada last week with a ‘last hurrah’ mentality.

Beginning the HotelPlanner Tour’s season-ending event in 36th place, Morrison knew he needed something special to climb into the top 20 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and in turn claim a DP World Tour card.

But like so often in elite sport, when it’s make or break, people often rise to the challenge.

He carded rounds of 71 and 67 over the opening two days to sit in a tie for seventh in a field of 45 players at the halfway stage, before a bogey-free 65 on Saturday saw him jump to the top of the leaderboard and three clear of his nearest challengers.

After an understandably anxious start, Morrison quickly grew into his final round and three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 11th paved the way for him to close out a three-shot victory, with his 13-year-old son Finley caddying for him.

“I played nicely all week,” he reflected, with his victory lifting him 30 places to finish sixth on the season-long standings.

“I didn’t play as well today (Sunday) but managed my emotions, dug into my memory bank and wins on the DP World Tour.”

From the prospect of bidding farewell to professional golf to being back among the best in the world, here we recap how Morrison did it over the past 12 months.

A new uncertain norm

In the immediate aftermath of losing his card at the Genesis Championship in South Korea in October 2024, Morrison told the DP World Tour’s Green Room his “next chapter” was upon him. For the first season since graduating to the DP World Tour from the HotelPlanner Tour in 2009, he had failed to record a top ten as he finished 122nd on the Race to Dubai Rankings - eight spots outside the cut-off to retain his card. Perhaps knowing nothing else, Morrison started the new DP World Tour season like many of his previous ones. After missing out on regaining his card at the Final Stage of Qualifying School, he played events in Australia and Mauritius, before eventually winding down for Christmas at home with his family. But with playing rights limited on Golf’s Global Tour for the rest of the season, a new reality awaited.

Swapping clubs for a microphone

In the aforementioned Green Room interview, Morrison hinted that a career down the line in golf commentary was appealing. His first experience of striding the fairways in 2025 saw him calling the shots instead of hitting them, working an on-course analyst as part of the global broadcast of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour. At Royal Golf Club, Morrison became the latest to explore a path that has long been open to players – both those who are active and retired. The experience was one that he welcomed and enjoyed, but a week later he was back competing on the HotelPlanner Tour in South Africa.

A renewed purpose

Having turned 40 in January, the milestone birthday had helped prompt a shift in perspective for Morrison. Intent on maximising every opportunity – wherever and whatever it may be – he had gone from believing he had reached the “top of the mountain” to having “a nice awakening”, helping him reassess his outlook.

"I'm only 40, still fit and healthy," he told the DP World Tour in an in-depth interview ahead of competing at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa in February.

"I played a practice round with Sean Crocker here in Kenya. He’s like 'I can’t believe you're only 40 and talking about doing commentary and giving up. Are you some sort of idiot?’. That sort of stuff has hit home with me a little bit. I've taken a breath for the last few months, but it's now time to get my head down and try and succeed again."

READ: Why James Morrison has renewed purpose at 40 after reaching 'top of mountain'

The sweet taste of victory again

Results were hard to come by though, with a missed cut in Kenya one of eight in a stretch of ten events – across both the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tours from February to June. But just when all hope may have appeared lost, he secured his first victory for over ten years in a play-off at the Blot Play9 in France. In doing so, he catapulted to 19th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings – prompting encouragement a return to the DP World Tour could be on the cards.

“I can’t wait to celebrate tonight, and this win puts me in great stead for the rest of the season,” he said. “The golf hasn’t been the problem, I’ve struggled mentally over the last few years, and it’s been so hard for me and my family. I’m so proud of myself to get back to where I am today.”

Feeling better on and off the course

While he struggled to build momentum on the back of his victory, registering mixed results across both Tours in the following weeks, there was no doubting he was a different player than the one who was struggling for clarity at the end of last season.

"I'm in an amazing place," he said ahead of competing in the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos on the HotelPlanner Tour. "It's not even about golf, it's not even about the future, or resurecting my career... It's about me being a better person in general, a better husband, a better friend. I think I had to do it for myself more than anything. I was in a pretty dark place at the end of last year [and] start of the year."

In the same interview, he would go on to reveal he wasn't ready mentally when he start the season in South Africa and credited the impact of his wife, Jessica, and his son, Finley, in helping him to do some necessary "soul searching".

A fairytale win with his son on the bag

After qualifying for the Rolex Grand Final as one of the top 45 players on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, Morrison arrived at the HotelPlanner Tour's season finale ready to give it his all. Describing his decision to have his 13-year-old son, Finley, as his caddie as a "no-brainer", Morrison was playing full of heart and emotion. But beyond that still, his experience proved instrumental under intense pressure over the four days of action in Alcúdia. Speaking of the role Finley played, he said: "He's got a 6:30am alarm for school in the morning! I love him, he did so good."

A welcome return to the DP World Tour

The celebrations will likely continue for a little while longer, but Morrison can look forward to competing against the best of the DP World Tour again soon. That prospect is a far cry from applying for a job at Waitrose, something he revealed he'd recently done during an interview to The Scotsman. With 438 DP World Tour appearances to his name, he may now think that the milestone of 500 is now a new and attainable goal. With two victories to his name this season, confidence has been restored and the news of his return was the source of great happiness for many in the game. Where he starts his season on the 2026 Race to Dubai schedule remains to be seen, but he's just delighted to have the opportunity to do so.