The Nedbank Golf Challenge returns in 2026, but players are voicing concerns over the tournament’s entry criteria.
Joost Luiten questions DP World Tour’s selection process
The Nedbank Golf Challenge is one of the most prestigious and lucrative events on the DP World Tour, boasting a $6 million prize fund. As such, it’s a highly sought-after tournament for players. However, Dutch golfer Joost Luiten initially found himself only as the first reserve despite finishing 33rd in the Race to Dubai last season.
Although the six-time DP World Tour winner has since been added to the field, he publicly expressed his frustration on Instagram: “Being the first reserve for the Nedbank Golf Challenge is honestly hard to understand. I finished 33rd in the Order of Merit, which secured me a spot in the biggest event of the DP World Tour Championship 2025, but I can’t get into a smaller event with more players and more spots than the Tour Championship! I just don’t get it!”
Support from fellow players
Luiten’s concerns were echoed by fellow players, including Englishmen Daniel Brown and Brandon Robinson-Thompson. Brown commented, “That’s a shame, it should be based on last season’s rankings. Reward those who played the best golf all season, not just for one week.” His remarks highlight the current system’s preference for past tournament winners over consistent season-long performance.
Luiten, increasingly frustrated with what he describes as poor communication from the Tour, has since discussed the issue with DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings. He hopes this will lead to changes in the qualification process for future events.