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These players got their cards after six gruelling rounds of DP World Tour Q-School

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20 players survived six long rounds at Infinitum to secure their DP World Tour cards for 2027, so who are they?

READING, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Tom Lewis of England and his caddie, former international footballer Gareth Bale on day one of the English Trophy 2026 at The Caversham on September 10, 2026 in Reading, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

It’s over. The 108 holes of the DP World Tour’s final stage of Q-School are done.

There was agony, but ecstasy for 20 players who battled through six rounds at Infinitum in Spain to secure their futures on Europe’s biggest stage in 2027.

Jose Luis Ballester, the former US Amateur champion who moved to LIV Golf, finished tied at the top of the leaderboard at 32-under-par, with his fellow Spaniard Rocco Repetto Taylor.

Ballester made his professional debut with LIV Golf in June 2025 in Virginia, following an eyebrow-raising move to the Saudi-funded league, which is now about to completely dissolve.

Both he and his LIV colleague Byeong Hun An pursued Q-School, having been left in the wilderness following the start-up league’s bankruptcy, and they have both earned Category 18 playing rights on the DP World Tour next season.

Last season, Q-School graduates earned generally between 15 and 24 starts. You can read more here about DP World Tour membership intricacies.

An shot 5-under in the final round on the Lakes Course in Tarragona to climb into a tie for eighth place with Jannik de Buryn and Scotland’s Ryan Lumsden.

One of the standout stories concerned Q-School specialist Tom Lewis. After carding a 63 on day five, Lewis backed it up with a 68 on Wednesday, which included 16 pars, a birdie and an eagle on the 18th hole. He finished in a tie for fourth, which meant that the dramatic events that surrounded his second stage qualifying were worthwhile.

He fell short of the top 21 in Fontanals in the previous qualifying round, so he headed home, but was stuck in standstill traffic. As the final round was delayed, a playoff had to take place on the following Monday morning to determine the allocation of alternate spots. Lewis could now take part.

Lewis won the playoff to become the eighth alternate, and this proved enough to get in the 156-player field at Infinitum.

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Current Ryder Cup assistant captain Edoardo Molinari carded 4-under in the final round to sneak into the group on the edge of qualification. DPWT status was awarded to the top 15 and ties, and Molinari was in a group tied for 14th.

edoardo molinari ryder cup

ALSO: Exclusive: Eddie Pepperell on Q School, sprained ankles and ditching the driver

In this group was the recent Hong Kong Open winner John Catlin, who also sporadically played in the LIV Golf League. Not only can Catlin look forward to starts at The Open and the Masters for that victory, but he can now sleep soundly with a DP World Tour card in his pocket.

Ben Schmidt of Rotherham Golf Club also shot a bogey-free 66 on Wednesday to sneak into the same group as Catlin and Molinari.

Further down the leaderboard, LIV Golfer and previous DP World Tour winner Elvis Smylie failed to qualify, finishing three shots shy of the 25-under cut-off.

Former Ryder Cupper and LIV Golfer Thomas Pieters finished in a tie for 45th, and nine-time DP World Tour winner Pablo Larrazabal finished in tied 53rd.

Remarkably, American Alex Goff shot a 62 in the first round to lead the way in the early stages, but followed this with rounds of 73, 69 and 72 to miss the cut.

Below is the full list of players who earned Category 18 status on the DP World Tour for 2027:

Every player to earn a card at DP World Tour Q-School 2026:

Jose Luis Ballester

Rocco Repetto Taylor

Cameron John

Ivan Cantero

Tom Lewis

Adam Blomme

David Nyfjall

Byeong Hun An

Jannik de Bruyn

Ryan Lumsden

Paul Beauvy

Marcus Helligkilde

Albin Bergstrom

Niklas Lemke

John Catlin

Ben Schmidt

Edoardo Molinari

Jansen Preston

Philipp Katich

Matteo Cristoni

Infinitum has agreed a three-year deal with the DP World Tour to continue their successful and long-standing hosting of the famous Qualifying School Final Stage through to 2027.

The new deal will mean that Infinitum’s renowned Lakes and Hills courses will play host to the DP World Tour’s six-round marathon tournament for nine successive years, and the three-year extension will coincide with large-scale enhancement and redevelopment of the stunning Hills layout.

NOW READ: Should DP World Tour Q School be televised?

NOW READ: DP World Tour Q School Preview: Players, dates and the gruelling format

DP World Tour Q School 2026 is done! What was your favourite story? Tell us on X!

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About the author

Matt Chivers
Matt Chivers

Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as the Masters, The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to many of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cleveland HiBore XL Driver driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, Benross BR-Pro irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.

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