European veteran calls for removal of DPWT's 10 PGA Tour cards pathway

Pablo Larrazabal says the pathway offering DP World Tour golfers duel membership on the PGA Tour needs to be removed. 

The 10 cards imitative was first introduced in 2023 as part of the DPWT's strategic alliance with the North American circuit. 

It sees players the leading players in the Race to Dubai, without PGA Tour status, earn membership for the following season. 

Critics of the scheme believe it is a talent drain from the DPWT, while those who have defended it argue the pathway has always existed. 

Whether it will survive remains uncertain, with the PGA Tour recently announcing structural changes set to take effect in 2028.

But nine-time DPWT winner Larrazabal, 43, believes the initiative it needs to be removed. 

"We will see what happens with the cards, I don't know," he told FlushingIt. "I’ve been vocal that I want them to disappear. 

"I always tried to fight the cards. We are weakening our company week in, week out. 

"Imagine Samsung giving away their ten best employees to Apple every year. It would never happen. 

"The company would get weaker every year and the DP World Tour is getting weaker every year."

Larrazabal said golf has "turned very selfish" the last few years after LIV arrived on the scene. 

"It's an individual sport so you have to be selfish," he said.  "But if we don't all work together we’re going to get weaker."

Last month, PGA Tour chief executive and commissioner, Brian Rolapp, outlined a number of structural changes that have been approved.

From 2028, the PGA Tour will officially be split into two tiers, with the introduction of a Championship and Challenger series. 

Players will switch levels based on performance and those eligible for the top tier will not be permitted to drop down a level. 

Former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover recently revealed the latter stipulation was the most controversial amongst players. 

Unsurprisingly, the new schedule is build around the four majors and the Players. 

There is a gap in the schedule for the PGA Tour to play more international events from September to January. 

Larazzabal is worried the DPWT could be relegated down the pecking order. 

"We're in the weakest position we've ever been in probably," he added. 

"We could be fifth (behind the PGA Tour Championship Series, Challenger Series, Korn Ferry Tour and LIV) or fourth if LIV disappears. 

"It’s tricky. The DP World Tour is already two tours. September to January and February to August. 

"There’s more points at the end of the year, more money. Rory plays the fall series and some other big boys from the PGA Tour. 

"That’s great. But the two tours will become more with the changes."

He added: "Those cards have to disappear. We are losing too much talent on the DP World Tour. 

"When I started we could easily be top 50 in the world (OWGR) playing here. Now it's tough."

The aforementioned McIlroy is among those in favour of the scheme. 

Before the PGA Championship in June, the Northern Irishman highlighted the success of Norway's Kristoffer Reitan as an example the system was working. 

Reitan earned his PGA Tour card last season and claimed the signature Truist Championship in May. 

"It just speaks to that incredible pathway for the DP World Tour players, and then also it's a wonderful opportunity for them," he said. 

"Kristoffer comes over here, cements himself as a PGA Tour winner [at] arguably one of the biggest events on the Tour. 

"But then also what a great thing that is for the DP World Tour when the PGA Tour finishes in August that Kristoffer will go back, play DP World Tour events until the end of the year, and that brings more attention, that brings more excitement to those tournaments at the end of the year. 

"So I think it's an amazing thing."