by WENYI THING has topped the inaugural Global Amateur Pathway Ranking and secured an exemption from the DP World Tour for the 2025 season.
Ding turns pro and makes his pro debut on home soil this week as an invite to the Challenge Tour’s Hangzhou Open in Hangzhou, China.
The 19-year-old from China, who finished as the No. 3 player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), secured the top spot in the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking after an impressive season that included a victory in Asia – Pacific Amateur Championship earlier this month, posting four rounds of 67 to claim the prestigious title at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba in Japan.
Ding, who turns 20 in November, said: “I am excited to begin my professional career and look forward to competing on the DP World Tour next season.” The Global Amateur Pathway has gave me an incredible opportunity and my thanks go to the DP World Tour, the R&A and the PGA Tour for supporting me and my fellow amateurs to achieve their goals.”
The Global Amateur Pathway – powered by WAGR® – was created by the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and The R&A to help the very best male amateur players take the next step in their careers.
The groundbreaking initiative has created a pathway for non-collegiate amateur players to the DP World Tour and partner tours around the world. In total, nine players from four partner tours were awarded professional membership in the first Global Amateur Pathway Ranking, with these players representing six different nationalities.
Exemptions from the European Challenge Tour, available to players from Europe and the Middle East, went to: Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen, who won the Amateur Championship at Ballyliffin Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland in July; Luis Masaveu Roncal from Spain; and the Frenchman Bastian Amat.
Americans Nathan Petronzio, Peter Fountain, Ben Warian and Jake Hall have secured PGA Tour Americas membership for the 2025 season’s Latin America Swing.
Finally, South African Tyran Snyders received a Sunshine Tour exemption and will make his professional debut tomorrow at the Fortress Invitational.
Guy Kinnings, Managing Director of the DP World Tour, said: “The Global Amateur Pathway is a key component of the pathway system we have developed on the DP World Tour in collaboration with our partners at The R&A and PGA Tour. It brings together the best global talent and provides them with a worldwide platform to showcase their skills. Congratulations to Wenyi Ding for becoming the first winner, setting a high standard for future stars, and we look forward to welcoming him to the DP World Tour next season.”
“With players more prepared than ever to succeed immediately after their professional careers, the PGA Tour has invested heavily in establishing a clear path for elite amateurs as they transition to the professional game and the PGA Tour,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan . “Thanks to the immediate success of the PGA Tour University, the proof of concept is in place and we are excited to take this next step with today’s announcement of the first Global Amateur Pathway class alongside the DP World Tour and The R&A. With the PGA Tour University and Global Amateur Pathway working in parallel, we are confident that these direct and strategic routes for high-performing, aspiring amateurs will accelerate the process of identifying and developing the stars of tomorrow.”
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said: “We would like to congratulate the first group of golfers to receive exemptions to compete on the professional tours through the Global Amateur Pathway.” These players have achieved success by playing in this “This season we have achieved remarkable results in major amateur championships around the world and we look forward to watching their progress as they embark on careers in the professional ranks.”
The Global Amateur Pathway complements the PGA Tour University – which awards membership to PGA Tour-sanctioned tours to the top Division I collegiate golfers at the conclusion of the NCAA Championship – to ensure that opportunities are available to elite players at all amateur ranks.
As part of the Global Amateur Pathway, Ding was the highest qualified male non-collegiate amateur in the WAGR® top 20 during the ranking period and therefore receives a DP World Tour card for the following season.
