Last season is so last week.
The circuit formally known as the European Tour concluded its season last Sunday when Collin Morikawa became the first American to win both the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai title.
This week, the new season is here already, and with that, a new name.
Now called the DP World Tour, the circuit kicks off its 50th year of existence at the Joburg Open in South Africa on Thursday. The tour will have 47 tournaments in 27 countries with more than $200 million in prize money up for grabs.
The tour will also feature three tournaments that are co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour: the Genesis Scottish Open, the Barbasol Championship, and the Barracuda Championship—the latter two taking place in the United States—as a result of the “Strategic Alliance” between the tours.
A video posted on Wednesday to promote the new season features appearances by Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Billy Horschel, and even Annika Sorenstam, among others.
The DP World Tour season is here
Let’s go
pic.twitter.com/0IwrQOWtgW
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 24, 2021
In addition to tournament riches, three spots into the 150th Open Championship, to be held at historic St. Andrews July 14-17, 2022, are on the line this week.
The top three who finish in the top 10 and ties at the Joburg Open who are not already exempt will earn a spot. The Joburg is the first event in the Open Qualifying Series.
There are four golfers in the field at the Joburg who are already exempt for St. Andrews: Dean Burmester, Dylan Frittelli, Justin Harding, and Shaun Norris.