Stories of agony and ecstasy in wait amid DP World Tour card battle in South Korea

By Mathieu Wood

A weekend of exceptional highs and heartbreaking disappointment lies in store at the Genesis Championship.

While there is more than one narrative at play in South Korea, there is little doubt that the battle among those players vying to earn or retain their full playing privileges is a huge source of attention.

Finish on or inside the all-important 114 cut-off point on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and your card for the 2025 DP World Tour season is secure. However, fail in that mission and a trip to Qualifying School awaits.

This is pressure-inducing golf.

· Projected Race to Dubai Rankings

· Report - Byeong Hun An stars on home soil to take two-shot lead into weekend

Marco Penge entered the tournament on the outside looking in at 115 and admitted he was feeling sick with nerves after getting up and down at the 18th to make the projected cut of one under at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea.

“That last six holes, especially the last putt, was probably the most nervous I have ever been,” said a relieved Penge in the Green Room afterwards.

But that was just step one. It kept alive his hopes, there is more work to be done.

Penge, who has one top ten in his rookie season on the DP World Tour after graduating from the Challenge Tour last year, is one of many with a sense of great purpose. 

Another is Daan Huizing, who will also be among the very early starters in third round on Saturday after playing his first two rounds in a combined one under.

The Dutchman – who started the week 131st – may have hurt his hopes with a two-over-par 74 on Friday but he is still full of belief that he can keep his card for a third consecutive season.

“I am not here to lose my card,” he said in the Green Room.

“I feel like I belong out here. I feel like I have made a tonne of mistakes this year that I shouldn’t have made.

“I need a couple of good rounds, but I have got it in me so let’s do it.

“I am definitely going to feel it this week… when those nerves come you have just got to deal with it. It makes you feel alive, it is going to get exciting that is for sure.”

Someone who heads into the final 36 holes inside the coveted list of exempt players is Matthew Southgate as he backed up an opening 70 with a 67 on day two.

At eight under, the 36-year-old, who gained full privileges on the DP World Tour back in 2016, is just four shots adrift of clubhouse leader Byeong Hun An.

While he will no doubt have hopes of mounting a title challenge, his attention will be on ensuring he continues to be inside the magic 114 number. At present, he has climbed 17 spots in the projected rankings from 127.

Elsewhere, fan favourite and fellow Englishman Eddie Pepperell gave himself hope of forcing his way into the top 114 as he made three birdies in his closing five holes to make the cut.

After opening with a 74, the writing appeared on the wall for the two-time DP World Tour winner, but he finished his second round strongly and will look to take that momentum into an important weekend’s golf as he looks to rise from a starting position of 124th on the rankings.

But one player who can have no influence on proceedings over the weekend is Tour veteran Ross Fisher.

The former Ryder Cup player began the week in a position of optimism at 108 but his missed cut has him projected to drop to 114, and while that may be good enough for now, a long weekend of crossing his fingers awaits.

In a post on X, he wrote: “Disappointing way to finish the 2024 season @DPWorldTour. Left everything out there and gave it everything. Tough playing 10/11 and 7 weeks in a row!! Going to be a difficult watch.”

However, one player who is safe despite finishing below the top 114 on the Race to Dubai is Rafa Cabrera Bello, with the Spaniard able to claim exempt status on the DP World Tour next season via the career money list.

While he can breathe easily in that knowledge, others are less fortunate. The variables at play over the weekend are too many to list, but the potential for movement is best summed up by Ricardo Gouveia.

Having started the week in a lowly 154, the Portuguese finds himself on the cusp of breaking inside the cut off after rounds of 69 and 67 over the first two days leave him in a tie for fourth and 115th on the Race to Dubai.

So, with much still to be decided, the jeopardy is making for great drama as the DP World Tour regular season draws to a close.