Third time lucky? Jamie Rutherford out to land coveted DP World Tour card in Mallorca

Jamie Rutherford can be forgiven for feeling a little déjà vu ahead of this week’s Rolex Grand Final supported by The R&A.

After narrowly missing out on promotion to the DP World Tour from the HotelPlanner Tour in each of the last two seasons, the Englishman has no desire for that to repeat itself as he arrives in Spain 20th in the Rankings.

In 2023, he came into the week in 19th place on the Road to Mallorca Rankings but ended the week 23rd – missing out on a DP World Tour card by two spots.

Last year it was even more agonising as he fell on the wrong side of the line by just one place after finishing 23rd on the season-long standings.

But this time will be different, he hopes.

"I have been in a very similar position both of the last two years… I know what to expect from the week," he said on the eve of the season-ending tournament.

"I feel like I am in a good position to handle everything I need to. My game feels good. I have had a good few days of prep."

Heartache often fuels the fire to realise long-held ambitions, and for Rutherford the drive to secure DP World Tour status - with 20 cards on offer in Mallorca - is in no doubt.

"Everyone wants it [a DP World Tour card] at the start of each season," he added.

"I have been in very similar positions now for three years in a row.

"I know I have played good enough golf for three seasons where I could easily have been in the top 20 but it’s been tight, so I am extremely motivated to have a great week and hopefully come the end of the week be in a good position.

"I have just got to focus on playing well and doing the things that will lead to that rather than thinking about that."

Unlike in 2023 and 2024 when a consistency of performance was the bedrock of his campaign, this year has been different.

His standing among the top 20 with one event to go, owes much to his maiden HotelPlanner Tour title at the Cell C Cape Town Open in association with Honor in February.

That early season success, followed by a top ten a week later in South Africa, has meant he has always been in and around the promotion mix.

But, since securing his second top ten of the campaign at the Dormy Open in Sweden in August, he has struggled and arrives in Spain on the back of four missed cuts in his last five events.

What better week to put that right than here, when everything is on the line?

“Being honest, I have not played as well this year as I have the two previous years,” he reflected.

“I feel like my game is as good as it has been but for one or two different reasons, I haven’t had the consistency and the results that I should have.

“But obviously having a win has led me to be in the same position or better than two seasons coming into here when I haven’t won but played more consistent, but I have won and played better golf through the whole year. You can obviously frame it in lots of different ways.

“I have played pretty poor for the last few months, and I am still coming here inside the top 20 with everything in my hands to play well and achieve what I need to achieve.”