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European Tour Qualifying School schedule revealed

The European Tour Qualifying School has been bolstered by the addition of four new venues ahead of the competition’s return in 2021.

Montado Hotel & Golf Resort in Portugal and Australia’s Rosebud Country Club will both make their long-awaited debuts in 2021 after the Qualifying School was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while Denmark’s Lyngbygaard Golf and Empordà Golf , in Spain, have also been added to the schedule for 2021.

The European Tour Qualifying School will visit 14 venues from September to November and gives players – professional and amateur – the opportunity to earn their place on Europe’s top tier for the 2022 season.

Montado Hotel & Golf Resort, Lyngbygaard Golf and Rosebud Country Club will all make their Qualifying School debuts as First Stage venues, with the latter making history as the first Australian venue to hold a Qualifying School event. First Stage will take place across nine venues in total, including returning locations in Austria, England, France, Italy and Sweden.

Empordà Golf, which is located in Girona, Spain, returns to the European Tour Qualifying School schedule as a Second Stage setting, along with three other Spanish venues, after previously hosting Final Stage in 2000, 2002 and 2003.

Mike Stewart, European Tour Qualifying School Tournament Director, said : “We are delighted to welcome all four venues to the European Tour Qualifying School family.

“The addition of Montado means we will continue our association with Portugal for the 11 th  time in 12 years, while we are excited to return to Denmark for the first time since 2009 when we visit Lyngbygaard Golf.

“We have great memories from our previous events at Empordà Golf and it is a venue we know is fitting of hosting the Second Stage of European Tour Qualifying School.

“As a global Tour, we are delighted to be able to host a First Stage event in Australia at Rosebud Country Club. European Tour Qualifying School gives an opportunity to professionals and amateurs alike to achieve their dream of earning a European Tour card and to extend the opportunity to players in the Asia-Pacific region is an exciting development.”

Lumine Golf Club , which has held the previous three Final Stage events, will return for a fourth stint as host of the Qualifying School finale.

The three-stage competition culminates in Lumine from November 12-17, 2021, where 156 players will compete over six rounds in a bid to secure one of 25 European Tour cards.

A full list of this year’s dates and locations are as follows:

FIRST STAGE

Section A 31 August – 3 September The Players Club, England Rosebud Country Club (North Course), Victoria, Australia

Section B 7-10 September Arlandastad Golf, Sweden

Section C 14-17 September Montado Hotel & Golf Resort, Portugal 15-18 September Golfclub Schloss Ebreichsdorf, Austria

Section D 21-24 September Bogogno Golf Resort (Conte Course), Italy Lyngbygaard Golf, Brabrand, Denmark

Section E 5-8 October Frilford Heath (Red Course), England Golf d’Hardelot, Les Pins, France

SECOND STAGE

4-7 November Alenda Golf, Alicante, Spain Empordà Golf, Girona, Spain Desert Springs Resort, Almeria, Spain Las Colinas Golf & Country Club, Alicante, Spain

FINAL STAGE

12-17 November Lumine Golf Club, Tarragona, Spain

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Letter from Europe

What’s on tap in Europe for 2022? Only a reimagined pro tour and a review of Ryder Cup qualifying

In at least one sense, life was never easy for the European Tour. Forever an economic second-best behind the financial behemoth that is the PGA Tour, the Old World circuit always struggled to compete for the attention and attendance of golf’s biggest names. That fact isn’t likely to change now that the “ET” has been laid to rest, but the strategic alliance between the newly packaged DP World Tour and the PGA Tour is one that most in Europe see as a positive development. Call it inevitable—and sensible, too—given the potentially imminent threat to the status quo offered by the Saudi Arabia-based LIV Golf Investments.

“What needs to be talked about is how the alignment with the PGA Tour evolves and what effect that will have in 2023 and beyond,” says Paul McGinley, former European Ryder Cup captain and a member of the DP World Tour Board of Directors. “We’re still finding our feet with that relationship, one that has never been better. We have aligned together against the Saudis. And that loyalty is being repaid in what they call ‘working streams.’ There is a lot more collaboration on social media. Communication is better. So many ideas are now being shared.”

So it is that, in many respects, 2022 can be viewed as something of a transitional year for the rebranded tour . One week before the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July, the Scottish Open will become the first DP World Tour event to be co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour. At the same time, the Barbasol and Barracuda Championships in the U.S. will offer starts to DP World Tour members.

Each tour gets 73 spots in the Scottish Open field, with any dual members counting against the PGA Tour’s allocation. So the old line of “play better” will be the response to any DP World players who complain about not getting a start.

“But, on the other hand, I don’t think there will be a more exciting or better time to play well on the European Tour,” says David Law, a Scotsman who finished 100th on the 2021 Race to Dubai. “There are those opportunities to play in the States opposite the Scottish and the Open. Playing really well there could bring massive rewards.”

MORE: European Tour rebranded DP World Tour for 2022

Whatever, it is a safe bet that such arrangements will increase in frequency in 2023 and beyond. Which is easier said than done, of course. While it’s not that hard to put together a schedule, it is difficult to be fair to all concerned. In particular, the guys down the points lists have to be looked after. Players like David Drysdale, who got the last European Tour card in 2020-21, can’t be lost in this. The tours can’t just look after the star names. As member organizations, they have an obligation to make sure everyone has opportunities to play.

The same is true of the PGA Tour. But it’s difficult to take 230 players from two tours, mix them together and be completely fair. So a schedule that works for both tours is required. Whatever the Saudis do, they will do. DP World chief executive Keith Pelley has made his bed and has aligned with the PGA Tour in an attempt to present the best product he can. After that, players are free to make their own choices.

“To be honest, I’m not sure the likes of Paul Casey, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell making the jump to anything the Saudis come up with would necessarily do much harm to the DP World Tour,” says Ewen Murray, a former European Tour player and now Sky Sports commentator. “Hardly any of them play that much in Europe these days. Like the PGA Tour, what the European Tour has done really well is to [just] keep going [during the COVID-19 pandemic]. OK, the money was down, but there has been a chance to play almost every week. I would have to question the integrity of those who say goodbye to all that, just to chase a few dollars.”

In the meantime, work continues behind the scenes on both sides of the Atlantic.

“There is certainly more to come as far as our partnership with the PGA Tour is concerned,” McGinley says. “More tournaments are likely to be aligned and co-sanctioned as time goes on. There is lot going on behind the scenes as we try to build a year-long international schedule that works for both tours. There are a few obvious opportunities for us. Post-FedEx Cup is one. Finishing in Dubai, that’s a big part of our season.”

The DP World schedule will offer $200 million in 2022, twice as much as 2021 , and represents, according to Pelley, “a new era for global golf.” Maybe, but still one that will retain some familiar aspects. Strong early in the Middle East—the tour resumes play the week of Jan. 17 in Abu Dhabi—and around the Open Championship, the traditional ebb and flow on tour remains. Meanwhile, “in-between” times like February/March, April/May and August will still feature a mix of some strong and not-so strong events.

“Our long-established tournaments will continue to flourish under the DP World umbrella,” McGinley says. “That level of sponsorship was a huge announcement for us, not just financially. It shows we are in good shape entering what looks like a new era for professional golf. But there are decisions to be made on what events remain just part of our tour and which ones are also part of the PGA Tour. It’s all being navigated at the moment.”

For the first time in the history of the former European Tour, an American—Collin Morikawa—won the year-long Race to Dubai title.

Luke Walker

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And not only on the main circuit. Recently, the second-division Challenge Tour announced a record-breaking global schedule for the 2022 season that will see the total prize fund surpass the €8 million mark for the first time. In all, the “Road to Mallorca” will consist of 31 tournaments staged across three continents in 18 different countries.

Which is all good. But Murray, would go further.

“I’ve always been an advocate of more change over, a bigger influx of new players every year,” says the Scot. “I don’t think as many as 110 players should be exempt. I see 75 as enough, which would allow more spots to open up for those graduating from the Challenge Tour. I like to see young players getting a chance. If they get to play in what might be called ‘average’ DP World Tour events, the incentive and opportunity to move up and on into the premier events will be there. Those events will become important stepping stones for those good enough to make the next upward move.”

Still, first thing first.

“I’m thrilled to see the prize money boost there,” says Law, who spent five years on the Challenge Tour before graduating to the European circuit. “A minimum purse of €250,000 every week will make a massive difference. It used to be that you had to make maybe €30,000 to keep your Challenge Tour card. And around €90,000-€95,000 would see you onto the European Tour. Next year those numbers will go up. Players will need to make around €45,000 to keep their cards. And those who do get promoted will have made some decent dough. Given the standard of golf being played on that tour, those numbers are far more appropriate.”

'We can’t brush Whistling Straits under any carpets. There are many lessons to be learned. Although we had a lot of headwinds against us, what happened wasn’t just a loss. It was a hammering.'

Hang on though. While the financial side of the tours are trending upward, some perspective is required. Yes, the prize money on the DP World Tour has doubled, but only when compared with last season. In many cases, purses have not yet returned to their pre-pandemic levels. By way of example, the British Masters will offer £1.85 million in 2022; in 2019 the prize fund was £3 million. The Dutch and European Opens will both pay €1.75 million this year, down from €2 million three years earlier. And the European Masters has fallen from €2.5 million to €2 million.

Which is not to say that the tour officials have failed in their primary mission to provide the membership with playing and financial opportunities. Yes, there have been more than a few €1 million events, and the odd dodgy course, but play continued. No mean feat for such a multi-national operation.

“It goes without saying that the European Tour had to work incredibly hard to keep going as it did,” Law says. “Had we had the schedule we have for 2022 with similar money to what we have seen over the last 18 months, no one could really have complained. But we were beginning to see a knock-on effect at those smaller events. Take the caddies. Those guys make their living off the percentages of what their players earn. And when those percentages went down, it was starting to be tough to get caddies at events. So the boost to the prize funds was something the tour needed. They’ve done a brilliant job in that respect.”

MORE: How an American finally grabbed the European Tour’s Race to Dubai title

Elsewhere, this wouldn’t be the tour formerly known as European if there was not some talk of the Ryder Cup. Even in years when the biennial battle is in abeyance, the subject is never far from the surface, both on the range and in the media. And in that, the DP World Tour will be no different. According to McGinley, an in-depth look at all things Ryder Cup has already begun in the wake of Europe’s record-breaking loss at Whistling Straits .

“There’s a big de-briefing going on, which is appropriate after such a heavy defeat,” McGinley says. “We have to review a lot of things. I’m on the Ryder Cup committee, but our [mission] is not to control the team. We are more involved, alongside the PGA of America, in building the Ryder Cup brand going forward. But I’m aware of what is going on. [Ryder Cup director] Guy Kinnings is currently undertaking a long look at every aspect of the Ryder Cup.”

Surely part of the eventual conclusions will be a close inspection of the qualifying criteria. With the changing landscape and the fact that so many of Europe’s best players are now based in America, it is appropriate to question the process. Do Europe’s young players get enough of a chance to make the team? Many feel there still needs to be a route into the side from the DP World Tour, although it is clear that it doesn’t have to be one that makes up 50 percent of the squad.

“We need to have the best team out there,” McGinley says. “And we need to have a qualification system that is evolving as the game is evolving. All of those things are being reviewed. We were beaten by a record margin. So we can’t just say things will be grand in two years time, or that all we have to do is grow the rough and off we go. Things are a lot deeper than that. We have to lick our wounds and take a serious look at what we need to do next time. And when that is done present it first to the ex-captains who are currently choosing the next skipper.”

MORE: Lee Westwood’s simple reason why he’ll pass on being Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain

A closer inspection of the scoring at Whistling Straits reveals the disturbing fact that, too often, the Europeans were beaten more by their own relatively poor play than American brilliance. There was also the impression that the narrative over the three days was more focused on team morale—“we’re all great pals and that’s what really counts”—than on the fact that they were getting royally thrashed.

“We can’t brush Whistling Straits under any carpets,” McGinley says. “There are many lessons to be learned. Although we had a lot of headwinds against us, what happened at Whistling Straits wasn’t just a loss. It was a hammering. Away from home with no support was always going to be difficult against what was maybe the best-ever American team. And I mean team. I don’t mean that in terms of this playing ability. I mean in how cohesive they were. And how well-captained and structured they were. They kept it simple. Everything behind the scenes looked very straightforward.”

All of which is for the future. More immediately, many questions remain for the new tour. Things clearly need to settle down. One way of another, the DP World needs to know where things stand with Saudi’s LIV Golf Investments. Is there going to be a rival tour? Are some players going to make the jump? Where are we going to be with COVID? Are we going to see increased restrictions? That’s a big question for a circuit that involves so much international travel.

“We are in the eye of the storm in that respect,” McGinley says. “So it is difficult to predict what will happen in the next 12 months. There are so many challenges and so much turmoil in the world at the moment.”

How To Earn A European Tour Card

There are many ways to qualify for a European Tour card which gives membership to the European Tour, now known as the DP World Tour

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There are two basic ways to get a European Tour card and thus membership of the European Tour, or DP World Tour as it is now known : you have it and retain it, or you qualify to move onto the Tour. There are many different routes to retain membership, just as there are for qualification.

The DP World tour operates, in effect, a promotion and relegation system with the Challenge Tour. It used to be that the top 110 on the Race to Dubai were guaranteed ‘staying up’ and the top players on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca were ‘promoted’. Those promoted this way used to be the top 15 but with Q-School (more of which later) suspended during the pandemic, it has been the top 20. Similarly, it has been the top 121 on the Race to Dubai who have ‘stayed up’ recently.

There are other ways to retain Tour membership which do not rely upon the final position in the Race to Dubai. Winning a DP World Tour event earns exemption from ‘relegation’, with the more prestigious the tournament, the more the number of seasons exemption a victory earns. Race to Dubai winners also gain lengthy exemptions. Some players can even retain membership on the basis of career performances, under a category of membership known rather delightfully and officially as ‘Legends’.

But how can you qualify for the Tour for the next season if not already on it during the current season? Well, a strong finishing position on the Challenge Tour’s order of merit is one way. Winning the order of merit of other selected tours around the world also brings with it DP World Tour membership.

But what if you are a golfer who fancies joining the Tour and none of the above applies? For them there is Qualifying School, or Q-School as it is known.

This was not held in 2020 or 2021 because of the pandemic. But ordinarily it is run over three stages and the top 25 in the final stage earn Tour membership. Some players are exempt from having to enter at stage one, and automatically qualify for either stage two or stage three.

Stages one and two are four-round tournaments at various venues. Stage three is a six-round tournament at one venue in Spain (most recently at in Tarragona at Lumine Golf Club , now renamed Infinitum )  with 156 entrants, with a cut after four rounds. The top 25 win Tour membership.

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It costs to enter Q-School – the fee was €1,800 in 2019, the last time Q-School has been held. That year 842 golfers teed it up in the first stage across nine different venues with 183 players qualifying through this process to join those players whose exemption took them straight into stage two. 

You do not need to become a PGA Professional if you fancy a shot at Tour glory and a European Tour card. The good news is any male amateur golfer can enter Q-School so long as they have a handicap of 0.4 or lower. The bad news is that shot is probably the longest of longshots: the last time Q-School was held, more than 1,000 golfers entered in quest of those 25 spots.

Contributing Writer Golf courses and travel are Roderick’s particular interests and he was contributing editor for the first few years of the Golf Monthly Travel Supplement. He writes travel articles and general features for the magazine, travel supplement and website. He also compiles the magazine's crossword. He is a member of Trevose Golf & Country Club and has played golf in around two dozen countries. Cricket is his other main sporting love. He is the author of five books, four of which are still in print: T he Novel Life of PG Wodehouse ; The Don: Beyond Boundaries ; Wally Hammond: Gentleman & Player and England’s Greatest Post-War All Rounder .

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2023 European Tour Qualifiers

Having enjoyed a return to a full programme of events in 2022, the PDC European Tour will again see 13 tournaments taking place across the continent in 2023, starting with a debut in Kiel, Germany next month.

There will be eight European Tour events staged in Germany, along with visits to the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

The Host Nation Qualifiers for ET1-ET4 will take place from February 10-12 in Hildesheim, with the first five Associate Member Qualifiers also set to be held at Halle 39 next month.

The East Europe Qualifiers for ET1-ET4 will take place from February 11-12 in Budapest with the dates and locations of the remaining East Europe Qualifiers to be announced in due course.

Players with the following nationalities are eligible to enter: Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo.

Riesa in Germany will play host to Associate Member Qualifiers for ET6-ET8 on March 29-30, before Host Nation Qualifiers for ET5-ET8 will be held the day before each event gets underway.

The remaining Associate Member Qualifiers for ET9-ET13 will then take place from May 19-21 in Hildesheim, along with Host Nation Qualifiers for ET9-ET11.

The Host Nation Qualifier for the last European Tour event of 2023 in Hildesheim will be played on October 12, while the Hungarian Host Nation Qualifier is scheduled for the first half of August (an exact date will be announced in due course).

2023 PDC European Tour – Host Nation & Associate Member Qualifier Dates HNQ1/AMQ1 Kiel + HNQ2/AMQ2 Leverkusen – February 10, Hildesheim, Germany HNQ3/AMQ3 Riesa + HNQ4/AMQ4 Munich – February 11, Hildesheim, Germany EEQ1 Kiel + EEQ2 Leverkusen – February 11, Budapest, Hungary AMQ5 Graz – February 12, Hildesheim, Germany EEQ3 Riesa + EEQ4 Munich – February 12, Budapest, Hungary AMQ6 Leeuwarden + AMQ7 Wieze – March 29, Riesa, Germany AMQ8 Prague – March 30, Riesa, Germany HNQ5 Graz – April 20, Graz, Austria HNQ6 Leeuwarden – April 27, Leeuwarden, Netherlands HNQ7 Wieze – May 4, Lebbeke, Belgium HNQ8 Prague – May 11, Prague, Czech Republic HNQ 9 + AMQ 9 Sindelfingen – May 19, Hildesheim, Germany HNQ10/AMQ10 Trier + HNQ11/AMQ11 Jena – May 20, Hildesheim, Germany AMQ12 Budapest + AMQ13 Hildesheim – May 21, Hildesheim, Germany HNQ12 Budapest – August (exact date tbd), Budapest, Hungary HNQ13 Hildesheim – October 12, Hildesheim, Germany

Entries are available through the PDC Entry System

Players that have not yet participated in a PDC competition will have to register before being able to enter any tournaments.

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European Qualifiers

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Highlights: Wales 0-0 Poland (4-5 pens)

Highlights: Georgia 0-0 Greece (4-2 pens)

Highlights: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-2 Ukraine

Highlights: Poland 5-1 Estonia

Highlights: Wales 4-1 Finland

Highlights: Greece 5-0 Kazakhstan

Highlights: Israel 1-4 Iceland

Highlights: Georgia 2-0 Luxembourg

Highlights: Croatia 1-0 Armenia

Highlights: Wales 1-1 Türkiye

Highlights: Greece 2-2 France

Highlights: Gibraltar 0-6 Netherlands

Highlights: Romania 1-0 Switzerland

Highlights: Ukraine 0-0 Italy

Highlights: North Macedonia 1-1 England

Highlights: Czechia 3-0 Moldova

Highlights: Northern Ireland 2-0 Denmark

Highlights: Slovenia 2-1 Kazakhstan

Highlights: San Marino 1-2 Finland

Highlights: Albania 0-0 Faroe Islands

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Littler seals European Tour debut, as quartet complete qualification double

Luke Littler will make his European Tour debut at the Blåkläder Belgian Darts Open next month, after winning through Wednesday's Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Wigan as four players secured spots in each of the year's opening two events. Tour Card Holder Qualifiers for ET1-2 took place at the Robin Park Tennis Centre on Wednesday, with each qualifier producing ten players per event. The Blåkläder Belgian Darts Open (ET1) will kick off the 2024 European Tour in Wieze from March 8-10, while the German Darts Grand Prix (ET2) will take place in Munich from March 30-April 1. Littler claimed his first PDC ranking title on his Players Championship debut on Monday, and the teenage superstar will now make his highly-anticipated European Tour bow in Belgium next month. The 17-year-old overcame Radek Szaganski, Mervyn King and Maik Kuivenhoven in the ET1 Qualifier, landing an 11-darter to edge out Kuivenhoven in a straight shoot-out for qualification. Littler had earlier whitewashed Szaganski in his opening round tie - avenging his defeat to the Pole in Tuesday’s Players Championship Two – before producing a brilliant mid-match burst to dethrone King. His hopes of completing a qualification double were curtailed by Jim Williams in the ET2 Qualifier, although the Welshman was subsequently denied a place in Munich by Germany's Lukas Wenig.

Belgium’s Mike De Decker was one of four players to complete a clean sweep in Wigan, winning six straight matches to book his place in the year’s opening two European Tour events, producing a series of consistent displays in wins over the likes of Simon Whitlock, Szaganski and Wessel Nijman. Dutch duo Richard Veenstra and Jermaine Wattimena will also star in Wieze and Munich alongside Wenig, who reaffirmed his credentials with back-to-back wins over World Championship semi-finalist Scott Williams. James Hurrell and Chris Landman will make their European Tour debuts following their success in the ET1 Qualifier, while Luke Woodhouse also sealed his progress in convincing style. Berry van Peer delivered a sublime 170 checkout to clinch his qualification with a 6-2 win over Cameron Menzies, while Daniel Klose defied a 106 average from Alan Soutar en route to booking his place in Belgium. However, Scottish stars Soutar and Menzies will compete at the German Darts Grand Prix, after bouncing back to win through the ET2 Qualifier later in the day. Soutar – a semi-finalist at Players Championship One on Monday – averaged 105 to see off Ricky Evans, and accounted for Woodhouse in another high-quality tussle to celebrate his European Tour return. Menzies, meanwhile, relinquished just seven legs in his four matches in the ET2 Qualifier, averaging 102 and 99 in eye-catching wins against George Killington and Danny Lauby respectively. Dutch trio Jeffrey De Zwaan, Kevin Doets and Niels Zonneveld also claimed a hat-trick of wins to advance through the ET2 Qualifier, although their compatriot Kuivenhoven was denied by Ireland’s Steve Lennon in the latter stages.

The PDC European Tour will see 13 tournaments held during 2024 - including a first visit in Switzerland - with each event worth £175,000 in prize money.

Broadcast coverage of the PDC European Tour will be through Viaplay, DAZN exclusively in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and on PDCTV.

In a change to the qualifying format from previous years, the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit now qualify by right for each event, along with the top 16 non-qualified players from the ProTour Order of Merit.

Each event will see the top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit seeded for the draw, entering in the second round, with the remaining 32 players drawn at random in the first round.

Click here for match stats & results via DartConnect.

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ET1 Tour Card Holder Qualifiers: Mike De Decker, Luke Woodhouse, Lukas Wenig, Jermaine Wattimena, James Hurrell, Richard Veenstra, Daniel Klose, Luke Littler, Berry van Peer, Chris Landman.

ET2 Tour Card Holder Qualifiers: Mike De Decker, Alan Soutar, Steve Lennon, Jeffrey De Zwaan, Niels Zonneveld, Lukas Wenig, Richard Veenstra, Kevin Doets, Jermaine Wattimena, Cameron Menzies.

European Tour

Premier League European qualification: Which teams are in the race and what do they need?

As the Premier League season enters its final weeks, the race for the European places remains an intriguing one.

Champions League , Europa League and Europa Conference League places are still up for grabs and the race to get them looks set to go the distance.

Seven English teams will play in Europe next season, despite an almost-certain lack of a fifth Champions League place, and only three spots could be classed as sewn up.

So, as the campaign boils down to its last days, here is how the battle is shaping up.

Firstly, how does European qualification work in the Premier League?

Champions league.

The top four teams in the Premier League gain qualification for the Champions League.

With the incoming changes to the format, there is the opportunity for an extra place but poor performances from English sides in European competitions this season mean Italy and Germany are set to earn those.

Arsenal , Liverpool and Manchester City will almost certainly confirm qualification in their remaining games while Aston Villa , in fourth, are best placed to join them.

PL's chance of five Champions League places is now 1.1% - but this is how it can happen

Europa League

There are two Europa League places given to English teams: one for the team that finishes fifth in the Premier League and the other for the FA Cup winners.

When the FA Cup winner finishes in the top five anyway, that place is deferred to the next-best finisher in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur are the team in fifth and, despite aspirations of catching Villa in fourth, are likely to have to settle for a Europa League place.

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Manchester United are well placed to take the other one; they face neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup final for the second consecutive year and are the team currently occupying sixth in the Premier League table.

Europa Conference League

The one place for an English team in the Europa Conference League is given to the Carabao Cup winners.

That place is deferred to the Premier League table if the Carabao Cup winners earn a Champions League or Europa League place through their league position.

This season’s Carabao Cup winners were Liverpool, who cannot drop out of the top five in what remains of the season, so the Europa Conference League place will likely be given to the seventh-place finisher in the Premier League. That is currently Newcastle United , but there are a few teams still in contention.

Which teams are fighting for a European place?

(Blue: Champions League qualification; Yellow: Europa League qualification; Green: Europa Conference League qualification)

It is fair to assume the top three will not drop out of the Champions League places in what remains of the season.

In truth, the current top seven teams may not move much in the final three weeks of the season — an expectation shared by Opta.

Tottenham can still catch Aston Villa in the final Champions League place but their inconsistent form and difficult run-in makes it unlikely that they will better Villa’s points total in what remains of the season. It is equally unlikely, though, that they finish any lower than fifth.

The battle for sixth is the one that looks likeliest to provide us with drama. If Manchester City win the FA Cup, sixth place will come with a Europa League place. If Erik ten Hag’s side win the FA Cup and don’t finish sixth, it will be a Europa Conference League place.

Manchester United’s main competition looks to be Newcastle but, despite a poor season, Chelsea are also in the picture. United’s task is simple: keep the teams below them at bay.

The two teams that miss out on sixth will then be in the running for seventh, which is likely to come with a Europa Conference League place.

West Ham (eighth) and Bournemouth (10th) have an outside chance of a seventh-placed finish, although it looks like they have too much ground to make up on the teams above them due to points difference and games in hand.

(Top photos: Getty Images)

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Ed Mackey is an Explainer Journalist for The Athletic, based in Leicester. He is a Football Journalism graduate from the University of Derby.

Leading DP World Tour trio in Japan target U.S. PGA Championship through Asian Swing

For many of the DP World Tour members playing in the ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP, the significance of the possible reward of qualification into next month’s U.S. PGA Championship is impossible to ignore.

The ongoing Asian Swing – the third of five Global Swings on the 2024 Race to Dubai schedule – presents an exciting opportunity: Exemption into the second men’s Major Championship of the year.

At the conclusion of next week’s Volvo China Open, the players who finish in the top three positions in the final Asian Swing standings will earn a spot to compete at Valhalla Golf Club from May 16-19.

Heading into this week’s event in Japan, Sebastian Söderberg sits just outside those spots but is well placed to break into the top three after moving into a share of the clubhouse lead at ten under through his opening two rounds at Taiheiyo Club’s Gotemba Course.

The Swede has made two appearances at a Major, both of which have come at the US Open in 2016 and 2022.

Asked whether the reward of a Major exemption was in his mind after a six-under-par 64 in the second round, he replied: “Absolutely, but I know you have basically got to win.

“We have got three spots [and] four events, so the winners have got the front seats. You probably need a win.”

Both Keita Nakajima, who leads the Asian Swing standings after his maiden DP World Tour title in India last month, and third-placed Kiradech Aphibarnrat are projected to make the cut in Japan.

But with Porsche Singapore Classic winner Jesper Svensson, who came into the week lying second, set to miss out on the final 36 holes, there is opportunity for those to make up ground before China.

One such player is Yannik Paul, who played alongside fellow DP World Tour winner Söderberg over the opening two rounds and holds a share of the lead after a second consecutive round of 65 in Japan.

The German played in last year’s U.S. PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club and is eager to feature again, with his current world ranking of 127 not set to earn him direct qualification.

“I know that I need a good performance to get into the [U.S.] PGA Championship based on world ranking,” said Paul, who sits 21st on the Asian Swing standings.

“I played last year, and I want to play on the big stage at the majors. I would lie if I said I wouldn’t be disappointed if I can’t play the PGA.

“I am trying to just take it day by day and see where I end up.

“I don’t really look at the leaderboard. I just try to stick to the process. Sometimes I get too distracted about the outcome.

“That is basically my main goal; just focus on the process, not the result or the leaderboard and see where I end up on Sunday.”

Another player riding high on the leaderboard in Japan and on the Asian Swing standings is in-form Englishman Sam Bairstow.

After finishing third in Singapore and then a tie for 13th in India, the European Challenge Tour graduate is now in a share of the lead at the penultimate event on the Asian Swing.

“I’m just keeping it simple, sometimes you can just overthink it,” said Bairstow when asked what he attributed his good form to.

Having come into the week ranked sixth on the Asian Swing, he is doing himself every favour in his bid for his first Major appearance overseas.

Click here to sign up to My Tour - the DP World Tour's free digital membership - and unlock exclusive competitions, offers and more.

Matthew Southgate ready for title tilt as hard work pays off

Matthew Southgate was relishing the chance to be in the mix at the ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP after making the changes that he hopes will bring him a long-awaited first DP World Tour victory.

DP World Tour Partners