These golfers just lost their DP World Tour cards

The DP World Tour's 2026 regular season came to a close this weekend at the Genesis Championship in South Korea. 

Yuto Katsuragawa emerged as the tournament's winner at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, claiming his second DP World Tour title in the process. 

The victory also came at a crucial time for the Japanese golfer, who started the week outside the top 100 in the Race to Dubai rankings and was in danger of losing his full playing privileges for 2027.

Instead, Katsuragawa secured his status in impressive fashion, finishing ahead of French challengers Martin Couvra, Frederic LaCroix and Antoine Rozner.

Not everyone enjoyed such a positive end to the season, though. 

Related:

• Which players earned their DPWT cards?

Several established names were unable to finish inside the required positions to retain their full cards, leaving them facing an uncertain future on the circuit.

GolfMagic has decided to take a look...

Eddie Pepperell

Eddie Pepperell came agonisingly close to retaining his card without even competing at the Genesis Championship.

The Englishman began the week in 99th place but chose to sit out the tournament while continuing to manage an injury. 

For much of Sunday, his position in the rankings looked sufficient to keep him inside the top 100.

That changed when Sean Crocker produced a superb finish, picking up six birdies over his final nine holes to move ahead of Pepperell and claim the last available spot.

Pepperell was quick to congratulate the American on social media, writing on X: "That is how you do it. Big balls, minerals you could say. Very well done. You can buy me a bourbon when I next see you."

Despite the gracious response, missing out in such dramatic circumstances will have been a bitter disappointment for the 35-year-old. 

Kiradech Aphibarnrat

Kiradech Aphibarnrat also finished outside the top 100 after a difficult week in South Korea.

The Thai golfer opened with a four-over-par 75 before withdrawing during his second round through injury. 

Aphibarnrat later issued an emotional apology to those who had supported him, admitting that the outcome was difficult to accept.

"First of all, I just have to apologise. I really let them (the fans) down," he said. 

"There aren’t many times in my life that I have disappointed people, especially my family and all the fans,” he said.

He added: "In the last 15 years I’ve had a really good career, but just the last three or four years haven’t been easy.

"I'm a fighter so I believe I’m going to get past all of this and we'll come back strong."

Ross Fisher

Ross Fisher's lengthy spell as a full DP World Tour member has also come to an end, with the five-time tour winner unable to do enough to climb the rankings.

His hopes of retaining his card disappeared after he missed the cut on Friday, bringing a difficult campaign to a close.

Fisher subsequently reflected on his time competing on the circuit for the last two decades. 

"I've been fortunate to have made some amazing friends and met loads of incredible people," he said. 

"Who knows what's next."

Marcel Siem

Marcel Siem endured a miserable start to the Genesis Championship, carding an opening-round 82 before withdrawing from the event.

The result effectively ended the German's hopes of salvaging his position in the Race to Dubai standings, leaving him outside the top 100 and without a full card for next season.

Siem will now face the prospect of returning to the DP World Tour's Qualifying School in an attempt to regain his playing privileges.

It is a route he knows well. The German successfully came through Q-School in 2023.

Pablo Larrazabal

Pablo Larrazabal is another accomplished tour veteran who will have to work his way back towards full membership.

The nine-time DP World Tour winner finished well outside the top 100, meaning he faces a return to Q-School for the first time in 20 years.

Reflecting on his situation, the Spaniard admitted that the result was particularly painful given the importance of the season.

"Just a very tough moment," he said.

Larrazabal said that a missed opportunity to claim a 10th victory in Bahrain last season had affected him more than he expected.

"What changed it all was throwing out the 10th victory in Bahrain last year at the beginning of the season, not making the putt on the last win, it was very tough," he said. 

"It took me a while to get through that one."

Elvis Smylie

Elvis Smylie (pictured) has experienced a dramatic change in fortunes over the past year.

Less than 12 months ago, the Australian was among the standout performers on the DP World Tour, finishing inside the top 25 in the Race to Dubai standings.

His subsequent move to LIV Golf has coincided with a challenging period in which he has had to balance commitments across the two circuits.

Smylie has now slipped to 171st in the Race to Dubai rankings and will not retain his full DP World Tour playing privileges for 2027.