
The Race to Dubai is a series of golf tournaments that take place across the world, culminating in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The competition features many of the world's top golfers and is used to crown the tour's number one golfer. Players accumulate points from each event they participate in, with the winner being the golfer with the most points at the end of the season. The DP World Tour Championship is played on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and was first held in 2009.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Crown the tour's number one golfer |
| Ranking | Based on points accumulated from each event that a player participates in |
| Participants | Many of the world's top golfers, not just players from Europe |
| Number of Tournaments | 45 in 2016 |
| Tournament Examples | Alfred Dunhill Championship, Turkish Airlines Open, Nedbank Golf Challenge |
| Season Structure | Three distinct phases: five Global Swings, the Back 9, and the DP World Tour Playoffs |
| Global Swings | The Opening Swing, the International Swing, the Asian Swing, the European Swing, and the Closing Swing |
| Cut-off | Usually the top 110 players, but the cut can vary |
| Season Finale | DP World Tour Championship, played on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai |
| Number of Participants in Finale | 50 players |
| Prize Purse | $10 million |
| Winner's Prize | $1.5 million |
| Past Winners | Nicolai Hojgaard, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Henrik Stenson |
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What You'll Learn
- The Race to Dubai is a series of golf tournaments
- The winner is the golfer with the most points at the end of the season
- The DP World Tour Championship is the climax of the Race to Dubai
- The Race to Dubai includes Majors, which have 10,000 ranking points
- The Race to Dubai is open to the world's top golfers, not just Europeans

The Race to Dubai is a series of golf tournaments
The series includes a large number of tournaments held in countries across the world, reflecting the growing popularity of the European Tour. In 2016, for example, there were 45 tournaments in the series, with the schedule beginning in November of the previous year. The Race to Dubai includes the four Major Championships, each offering 10,000 ranking points. Other notable tournaments within the series include the Rolex Series, which was launched in 2017 and offers elevated ranking points and increased prize funds.
The Race to Dubai concludes with a final series of three significant tournaments at the end of the season. The Turkish Airlines Open and the Nedbank Golf Challenge are the first of these, offering players the chance to secure a spot in the top 60 rankings and qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship. This final tournament is held at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and is contested by the leading 50 or 60 players in the DP World Tour Rankings. The winner of this tournament secures the most substantial share of the prize purse, which was worth $10 million in 2012.
The Race to Dubai is not restricted to players from Europe, and it attracts many of the world's top golfers. The series provides an alternative to the US PGA Tour, appealing to international golfers seeking to compete on the European Tour and claim the top spot in the Race to Dubai. Rory McIlroy, a notable golfer, has won the DP World Tour Championship three times and is the most successful player in the history of the Race to Dubai.
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The winner is the golfer with the most points at the end of the season
The Race to Dubai is a competition that ranks golfers based on their performance over a 12-month period, with the winner being the golfer with the most points at the end of the season. The competition features many of the world's top golfers and is not restricted to players from Europe. It includes a large number of tournaments held in various countries, with each tournament weighted differently according to its prestige and ranking importance. The higher a player finishes in a tournament, the more prize money they earn, and this monetary amount is then converted into ranking points for the Race to Dubai.
The four Major Championships each offer 10,000 Race to Dubai Ranking points. Additionally, the Rolex Series, launched in 2017, includes premium events with elevated ranking points and increased prize funds. The season is structured into three distinct phases: the five 'Global Swings', the 'Back 9', and the 'DP World Tour Play-Offs'. The Global Swings consist of five individual swings, each with its own rankings, while the Back 9 encompasses nine historic tournaments and national Opens with increased ranking points.
The Race to Dubai concludes with a final series of three significant tournaments. The Turkish Airlines Open and the Nedbank Golf Challenge offer players the opportunity to secure a spot in the top 60 rankings, qualifying them for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. This final tournament, hosted at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, is where the overall winner of the Race to Dubai is crowned. The DP World Tour Championship is played on the Earth Course, designed by Greg Norman, and is considered one of the most iconic courses on the European Tour schedule.
The winner of the Race to Dubai receives the Harry Vardon Trophy and a substantial prize. The original prize fund was set at US$10,000,000, but it has since been adjusted over the years. In 2013, the tournament generated a US$44 million gross economic benefit for Dubai, showcasing its economic and golfing significance. Past winners of the DP World Tour Championship include renowned golfers such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Henrik Stenson.
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The DP World Tour Championship is the climax of the Race to Dubai
The DP World Tour Championship is a golf tournament on the European Tour and is the climax of the Race to Dubai. It is a season-ending tournament, played on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The course was designed by Greg Norman and is considered one of the most iconic on the European Tour schedule.
The Race to Dubai is a ranking system that determines the tour's number one golfer by accumulating points from each event a player participates in. The DP World Tour Championship is the final event of the Race to Dubai, where the overall winner is decided. The tournament is contested by the leading 50 or 60 players in the DP World Tour Rankings, depending on the source. These players compete for a share of a substantial prize purse, which has been as high as $10 million.
The Race to Dubai was launched in 2009, replacing the Order of Merit. Since its launch, there have been nine different champions, with Rory McIlroy being the most successful player, having won on three occasions. The Rolex Series, launched in 2017, is a premium category of events on the DP World Tour with elevated Race to Dubai Ranking points and increased prize funds.
The DP World Tour Championship is the highlight of the Race to Dubai, with the winner being crowned the DP World Tour Number One player. This tournament is the culmination of a series of events and offers a significant economic benefit to Dubai, further enhancing its reputation as a world-class golfing destination.
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The Race to Dubai includes Majors, which have 10,000 ranking points
The Race to Dubai is a points-based ranking system for golfers who are members of the DP World Tour. The golfer with the most points at the end of the season wins the Harry Vardon Trophy and is crowned the DP World Tour's Number One player. The Race to Dubai includes Majors, which have 10,000 ranking points. The four Major Championships are worth significantly more than the tournaments within the Global Swings, which carry 3,000 to 4,000 points, and the tournaments within the Back 9, which are worth 5,000 points. The Rolex Series tournaments played before the playoff offer 8,000 points.
The Race to Dubai features a minimum of 42 tournaments in at least 26 countries, with a record total prize fund of $153 million outside the Major Championships. The season is divided into three distinct phases: the Global Swings, the Back 9, and the DP World Tour Playoffs. The Global Swings consist of five individual 'Swings'—the Opening Swing, the International Swing, the Asian Swing, the European Swing, and the Closing Swing—each with its own individual Swing Rankings. At the end of each Swing, the leading player is crowned 'Swing Champion' and qualifies for the 'Back 9' events.
The Back 9 includes nine of the DP World Tour's most historic tournaments and national Opens, with increased Race to Dubai Ranking Points on offer. After the Back 9 comes the DP World Tour Playoffs, which include the Abu Dhabi Championship and the DP World Tour Championship. The DP World Tour Championship is the climax of the Race to Dubai and is contested by the leading 50 players in the DP World Tour Rankings at the start of the tournament. The winner of the DP World Tour Championship earns 2,000 Race to Dubai points, and each player who completes the event earns points.
The Rolex Series, launched in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of Rolex's partnership with the DP World Tour, is the premium category of events on the tour. Rolex Series events carry elevated Race to Dubai Ranking points and increased prize funds for players.
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The Race to Dubai is open to the world's top golfers, not just Europeans
The Race to Dubai is a prestigious golf tournament that attracts many of the world's top golfers. While it is a part of the European Tour, it is not exclusive to European players. The tournament is open to golfers from around the world, offering an opportunity to compete against the best in the game and strive for the coveted number one spot.
The Race to Dubai is a season-long competition that spans approximately 12 months and includes a large number of tournaments held in various countries. Players accumulate points based on their performance in each tournament, with the higher-ranked tournaments offering more points and prize money. The ultimate goal is to accumulate the most points by the end of the season and be crowned the Race to Dubai champion.
The tournament is known for its inclusivity, attracting golfers from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. While Americans may prefer the US PGA Tour, golfers from other parts of the world often gravitate towards the European Tour and the chance to excel in the Race to Dubai. This mix of international talent adds to the prestige and excitement of the competition.
The Race to Dubai has a rich history, with past winners including renowned golfers such as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Henrik Stenson, and Collin Morikawa. These golfers have left their mark on the tournament, with McIlroy holding the record for the most wins and Rahm and McIlroy sharing the record for most wins as of the 2024 season.
The Race to Dubai is not only about the competition but also about the experience. It concludes with a series of prestigious tournaments in exotic locations, such as the Turkish Airlines Open and the Nedbank Golf Challenge, before culminating in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. This final event is played on the renowned Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, adding to the allure and prestige of the Race to Dubai.
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Frequently asked questions
The Race to Dubai is a series of tournaments that ranks players on their performances over 12 months.
The Race to Dubai ranks players based on their performance in a large number of tournaments held in countries across the world. The higher a player finishes in a tournament, the more prize money they earn, and this is then converted to ranking points. The player with the most points at the end of the season wins.
The DP World Tour Championship is a golf tournament on the European Tour and is the climax of the Race to Dubai. It is contested by the leading 50 players in the DP World Tour Rankings at the start of the tournament.











































