19 yo Chinese golfer turns down 2025 Masters, Open Championship spot to join DP World Tour instead

19-year-old Chinese golfer Ding Wenyi has turned down the opportunity to play in the 2025 Masters and The Open Championship to secure his DP World Tour card. The young golfer is eligible to get the European Tour card through the Gateway Amateur Pathway, which provides the DP World Tour card for the best amateur male golfer by the end of the season.

It is similar to the PGA Tour's U ranking, which was launched in 2020, and gave the top-ranked amateur golfer in the university standings a Tour card by the end of the year. Likewise, the top-ranked player in the Gateway Amateur Pathway earns the DP World Tour card.

However, this program is for non-collegiate amateur players, who are within the top 20 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Additionally, to be eligible for the program, one must be 20 years old and not a current NCAA Division 1 player.

Wenyi is currently ranked fifth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and will turn 20 by November 2024. The pathway window closes on 13 October, and, the 19-year-old Chinese golfer is in the lead.

However, he has also won the 2024 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship this week by defeating Ziqin Zhou. The winner of the competition gets a direct exemption to compete at the Masters and The Open Championship for the next year.

As reported by Flushing It on its X account, Wenyi announced during his post-round interview at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship that he is considering pursuing the DP World Tour card and would give up his spots at the Majors.

---

"I can’t sacrifice"- Ding Wenyi prioritizes DP World Tour over majors ahead of Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship

Ding Wenyi was clear about his decision to secure the DP World Tour card, irrespective of the result at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. Even ahead of the competition, he told Golf Digest that his focus is on getting the membership. He said:

"It was difficult, but I can’t sacrifice [DP World Tour status] to wait for the Masters [and Open],” Wenyi said. “I know it's a great [opportunity] for an amateur player, but I'm going to turn pro. [Hopefully], I can get in [those two majors] by myself. [I want to] learn how to be a professional player and keep improving. I want to try to make the cut at every tournament and, if I have a chance, try to win.”

Now that Wenyi has won the amateur championship and is eligible to compete in the Majors, he is considering joining the DP World Tour by turning professional by the end of the year.

Ding posted four rounds of 67 to win the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship this week. He was the runner-up in the 2023 edition, where Jasper Stubbs won it.