Maximilian Steinlechner takes the season lead after Round 1, while Nemecz and Albers face uphill battles.
The magic number at the Rolex Grand Final of the HotelPlanner Tour is 20. The top 20 players in the season standings after this event will earn full playing rights on the DP World Tour. Among those chasing this opportunity are three German-speaking players.
Steinlechner takes lead in live season ranking
For Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner, it’s not just about securing a tour card — he’s also in contention for the overall HotelPlanner Tour 2025 title. Trailing season leader JC Ritchie by just 100 points and with David Law close behind, the trio are locked in a tight battle. After Round 1, Steinlechner has the edge. A stretch of five consecutive birdies propelled him into a tie for fourth, while Ritchie dropped a shot on 17 and sits one stroke behind in a tie for sixth. That swing is enough to push Steinlechner into the top spot in the projected season standings.
Nemecz and Albers on the bubble
Lukas Nemecz, currently 19th in the season ranking, is not yet safe. Despite a solid two-under-par 70 that placed him T16 on the leaderboard, he dropped two spots in the live projection due to strong performances from players outside the top 20. His round included several birdies but also four bogeys. If he can clean up those mistakes, his chances of securing a card improve.
Anton Albers faces the toughest road. Starting the week in 21st, his opening 73 placed him 34th out of 45 players and dropped him to 23rd in the live standings — moving in the wrong direction. A bogey on the first hole was an early warning, and a disastrous triple bogey on the 8th set him back further. However, he recovered on the back nine with three birdies. He’ll need to carry that momentum into the remaining rounds to keep his DP World Tour hopes alive.