DPWT pro gives up PGA Tour card after physical and mental struggles

Dan Brown has decided to step away from the PGA Tour for the remainder of the 2026 season.

The Englishman secured duel membership between the North American circuit and the DP World Tour after an impressive 2025 campaign that saw him step into the winner's circle at the BMW International Open. 

Brown initially looked set to finish 11th among the players eligible for the limited number of dual-membership places, but Laurie Canter's move to LIV Golf opened the door for him to take up a PGA Tour card.

It has ultimately proved to be a difficult first season in the United States.

Brown, who entered the year as a two-time DP World Tour winner, opened his PGA Tour campaign with a top-20 finish at the Sony Open. 

However, his form subsequently dipped, with five missed cuts in his next seven starts. 

His two other made cuts during that stretch resulted in finishes of T30 and T40.

Things failed to improve significantly as the season progressed, leaving Brown well outside the FedExCup top 100 heading into the FedExCup Fall events.

The 31-year-old has also been dealing with a persistent wrist problem. 

The injury forced him to withdraw from both the British Masters and the BMW PGA Championship, while he had also considered having an injection so he could compete in the Irish Open before ultimately deciding against it.

Brown's schedule has been limited as a result. 

Since finishing T18 at The Open in July, his only competitive appearance came at the DP World Tour's Nexo Championship in August, where he finished T16.

Now, rather than attempting to return to the PGA Tour, Brown has opted to concentrate on the DP World Tour for the remainder of the year.

In a statement shared on Instagram, Brown explained the decision.

"Due to the recent health and injury issues I have made the difficult decision to not go back to the PGA Tour for the rest of the 2026 season," he wrote. 

"Having had a few days to think about things and after Wentworth I don't feel as though I'm in the right place mentally and physically to see things out the way I would’ve liked.

"Huge thank you to everyone in America who made me feel welcome, I've been fortunate enough to have played some amazing golf tournaments and made some new friends along the way.

"So with that I will be playing the rest of the year on the DP World Tour, a place in which I'm comfortable and can in turn surround myself with people who I feel can get me back on the right track.

"Lastly a huge thank you to all my family, friends and sponsors who have stuck by me through a frustrating period."

Brown's victory at the 2025 BMW International Open means he remains exempt on the DP World Tour through the end of next season, giving him a guaranteed place on the circuit as he looks to rebuild his form.

His rise last year saw him climb into the world's top 70, and he will now hope that a return to familiar surroundings can help him rediscover that level of performance.

His first appearance following the announcement will come at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. 

The event will see Brown compete across St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns alongside a strong field of players that includes Bubba Watson, Cameron Smith, Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose and Robert MacIntyre. 

Race to Dubai leader, Patrick Reed, has withdrawn as he continues to recover from a wrist injury that forced him to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship.