Last Updated 15th October 2025

This page covers the men’s transition pathways that the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour have introduced in recent years, namely the PGA TOUR University Ranking, PGA TOUR University Accelerated and Global Amateur Pathway.

The PGA TOUR has sought to built a stronger bridge between U.S. college golf and the professional game. They have done this by introducing the PGA TOUR University Ranking (June 2020) and the PGA TOUR University Accelerated leaderboard (November 2022).

The DP World Tour introduced the Global Amateur Pathway (June 2024) to help the best non-collegiate amateur players move onto its tour and some of the other junior Tours around the world.

PGA TOUR University Ranking

On 1st June 2020 the PGA TOUR introduced the PGA TOUR University Ranking List for NCAA Division I golfers entering their fourth year (senior) of collegiate play and covering their final two year’s results. The program was designed to help the leading U.S. College golfers transition on to the PGA TOUR and to encourage more students to complete their educations.

Enhancements to the scheme were subsequently announced on 14th November 2022, 8th May 2023, 12th December 2023 and 2nd January 2025.

The Ranking is based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and includes all NCAA Division I Men’s Golf events, official PGA TOUR events, select DP World Tour events and all Major Championship performances. No other performances are included in the analysis.

A player has to compete in a minimum of nine events, including the NCAA Division I Men’s Regional Championship, during their final senior year.

The No. 1 ranked player at the end of the collegiate season earns PGA TOUR membership for the remainder of that year and all of the following season (subject to reshuffles).

Ludvig ÅBERG (SWE) was the inaugural recipient of this prize in 2022-23, Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA) earned it in 2023-24 and David FORD (USA) secured it in 2024-25.

David Ford (Photo: PGA TOUR)

Here is the 2025-26 PGA TOUR University Ranking as at 10th September 2025: –

PGA TOUR Pre-Season Ranking at 10th September 2025 (Graphic: PGA Tour University)

The PGA TOUR University Ranking List is updated weekly during the collegiate season on the back of the WAGR release. The current list can be viewed here – PGA Tour University Ranking

The 2025-26 PGA TOUR University ranking currently offers the following playing rewards: –

The #1 player* – PGA TOUR for 2026 and 2027

The #1-10 ranked players – Korn Ferry Tour (full) 2026, PGA TOUR Americas (Latin American Swing) 2027 and Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School 2026

The #6-10 ranked players – Korn Ferry Tour (conditional) 2026, PGA TOUR Americas (Latin American Swing) 2026 and Second Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School 2026

The #11-25 ranked players – PGA TOUR Americas (North American Swing) 2026, PGA TOUR Americas (Latin American Swing) 2027 and Second Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School 2026

PGA Tour University Trophy

It will be interesting to see if the PGA TOUR move across to the new Scoreboard Rankings in due course given their existing association with strokes gained guru Mark Broadie.

Since 2021 the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic, played at the Emirates Golf Club in January each year, has offered a sponsor’s exemption to the No. 1 player in the PGA TOUR University Ranking at the end of the previous fall college golf season. David Ford (USA) competed in U.A.E. in January 2025, making the cut and finishing tied 72nd on +4.

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PGA TOUR University Accelerated

A new program aimed at catching high achieving freshmen, sophomores and juniors entitled ‘PGA TOUR University Accelerated’ was introduced in November 2022.

Players earn points based on their accomplishments in college, amateur and professional golf. If they amass 20 points by the end of their third year of NCAA eligibility – a very high threshold – they will earn PGA TOUR membership gaining eligiblity for all open, full-field events following the conclusion of that year’s NCAA Championship.

In May 2023 it was announced that a successful player’s PGA TOUR membership would also be extended to the following season (subject to reshuffles).

The points available to players were last modified on 2nd January 2025 and are summarised below: –

Win a major college golf award

PGA TOUR University Accelerated Points Table at 2nd January 2025 (Graphic: PGA Tour University)

On 18th October 2023 Gordon SARGENT (USA) became the first player to reach the 20 points mark. He reached the magic number when he represented USA at the World Amateur Team Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Gordon Sargent’s PGA Tour University Accelerated Points (Graphic: PGA Tour University)

On 18th April 2024 Sargent announced that he would be completing his senior year at Vanderbilt University in 2024/25.

Following the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA Division I National Championship in May 2024 Sargent would have become eligible to accept PGA TOUR membership, eligible for open, full field events throughout 2024 and 2025 (subject to reshuffles), should he have chosen to turn professional. He chose to take up his PGA TOUR place in June 2025 after this year’s Division I National Championship.

Gordon Sargent Received His PGA TOUR Card In Abu Dhabi in 2024 (Photo: PGA TOUR)

On 28th February 2025 Luke CLANTON (USA) became the second player to reach the 20 points mark and secure his status on the PGA TOUR. He collected his final point by making the cut at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. He went on to finish tied 18th on -12.

Unlike Sargent 14 of his 20 points came via PGA TOUR results with the remainder through the WAGR. He saw out the season at Florida State University before turning pro after the NCAA Division I Championship in June 2025.

Luke Clanton With His PGA TOUR Card in February 2025 (Photo: PGA TOUR)

On 26th May 2025 Jackson KOIVUN (USA) became the third player to earn PGA TOUR membership after securing his 20th point in the PGA TOUR University Accelerated ranking via a top 10 finish in the NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship at Omni La Costa.

Koivun plans to complete his junior season at Auburn University before taking up his PGA TOUR status in June 2026.

Jackson Koivun With His PGA TOUR Card in May 2025 (Photo: PGA TOUR)

As of 8th September 2025 the leading players on the Accelerated register are: –

20 points – Jackson KOIVUN (USA), Auburn, Junior (2027) QUALIFIED   

   9 points – Ethan FANG (USA), Oklahoma State, Junior (2027)
   7 points – Preston STOUT (USA), Oklahoma State, Junior (2027)   

   5 points – Connor GRAHAM (SCO), Texas Tech, Sophomore (2028) 
   4 points – Tyler WEAVER (ENG), Florida State, Junior (2027)
   3 points – Luke POULTER (ENG), Florida State, Junior (2027)
   2 points – Niall SHIELS DONEGAN (SCO), North Carolina, Junior (2027)
   2 points – Gavin TIERNAN (IRL), East Tennessee State, Sophomore (2027)

The up to date full list can be viewed in full here – PGA Tour University Accelerated

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Global Amateur Pathway

On 4th June 2024 the DP World Tour (administrator), The R&A and the PGA Tour launched the Global Amateur Pathway (GAP). The aim being to create a pathway for non-collegiate amateur players to the DP World Tour and other partner Tours around the world.

Under the GAP, the best eligible non-collegiate male amateur within the top 20 of the WAGR will receive a DP World Tour card for the following season.

An additional 8 players in the GAP Ranking, subject to being in the WAGR top 100, will also earn exemptions to their local regional tour be that the European Challenge Tour, China Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Korean PGA Tour, PGT of India, PGA Tour Americas, PGA Tour of Australasia or Sunshine Tour.

Registration, via a GAP application form, for the 2025 programme opened on 1st January 2025 and closed on 30th June.

To be eligible for enrolment into the GAP Ranking and Programme, amateur golfers must meet the following criteria:-
· not be a current NCAA Division-I player^;
· be at least 20 years of age by the end of the calendar year of the relevant Ranking Period;
. have played in 20 Eligible Tournaments during the Ranking Period; and
· be within the top 200 WAGR*

^ Former NCAA Division-I players are eligible but (I assume) must be graduates or have completed 4 years of athletic eligibility.

* Players entering the top 100 in WAGR following the end of the registration period will be able to request late registration (open until 20th September).

Successfully enrolled Players competing in Eligible Tournaments (WAGR Counting Events) will earn points equivalent to the number of points awarded by WAGR.

The Class of 2025 GAP Ranking Period will cover the period 16th October 2023 to 12 October 2025 and exemptions will be awarded for the 2026 season.

Players who do not earn performance benefits in the final PGA Tour University Ranking will be eligible for inclusion in the GAP Programme.

Players who have attended NCAA Division-I college who leave college at any point prior to their graduation date and who meet each of the entry criteria will be eligible for inclusion in the GAP Programme but any events and WAGR points earned at US NCAA Division-I tournaments will be excluded from their records for the purposes of the Ranking.

The GAP Ranking will be published every week on the GAP page of the DP World Tour website following the end of the Registration Period.

The DP World Tour reserves the right to make final determinations regarding a player’s eligibility in the GAP Programme.

Exemptions earned via GAP will require a player to turn professional and to join and pay all applicable Tour fees.

If a player chooses to remain amateur or not to accept his Performance Benefits they will be forfeited and offered to the next eligible player in the Ranking.

2024/25 Year 2 GAP Ranking

22 year old Cameron ADAM (SCO), #20 in WAGR, topped this year’s GAP, earning a DP World Tour exemption for the 2026 season.

Dominic CLEMONS (ENG) #40, Charlie FORSTER (ENG) #42 and Kristian Hjort BRESSUM (DEN) #67, who finished 2nd – 4th on the Ranking, secured 2026 HotelPlanner Tour cards.

GAP Ranking as at 15th October 2025 (Graphic: DP World Tour)

GAP Website address – https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/rankings/overview/global-amateur-pathway/

2023/24 Year 1 Results

Wenyi DING (CHN) earned the DP World Tour exemption for the 2025 season after finishing 1st in the GAP Ranking.

Ironically Wenyi Ding, who turned 20 in November and was due to be playing out his sophomore year at Arizona State University in 2024/25, left college in the summer of 2024 knowing he was odds on to win the exemption and could turn pro in due course with a tour card in hand.

Nine other players earned professional membership via inaugural the GAP Ranking.

European Challenge Tour exemptions, available to European and Middle Eastern players, went to Jacob Skov OLESEN (DEN), Luis MASAVEU (ESP) and Bastian AMAT who finished 2nd – 4th on the Ranking.

Olesen and Amat both subsequently earned a DP World Tour card in November 2024 at the Tour’s Q-School in Spain. As a result of this their spots became available for the next geographically eligible players in the ranking. As Max KENNEDY (IRL), GAP ranked #7, was also successful at the DP World Tour Q-School the fortunate recipients ended up being Will HOPKINS (ENG) #10 and Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) #12.

Americans Nathan PETRONZIO, Peter FOUNTAIN, Ben WARIAN and Jake HALL earned PGA TOUR Americas membership for the Latin America Swing of the 2025 season.

Finally, Tyran SNYDERS (RSA), earned an exemption on to the Sunshine Tour.

ME.

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