Conor Purcell finally has some momentum at his back as the DP World Tour touches down in Europe for the summer as he looks to climb the Race to Dubai and secure his playing rights for next season.
Purcell’s start to his rookie campaign on Europe’s top tier has been an initial struggle, missing six of his first eight cuts but finishes of 15th and 20th in back to back events in China, including a final round of 65 at the Hainan Classic has given him a burst of confidence heading to Turkey next week.
It moved the 27-year-old to 127th on the Race to Dubai with the top-112 keeping their full playing privileges for 2026.
The Portmarnock man has been a well travelled golfer this year, taking in stints in China, India, Singapore, Kenya and across the Middle East so a European swing is just the tonic he needs where he can cut down on travel time and spend more time with family and friends between tournaments as he looks to fully find his feet at this level.
“Being closer to home in the European swing it will be easier to bring family or friends out and just being the only Irishman out there I hope a couple of the lads can progress and we can have a bunch of us out there,” said Purcell who hopes Liam Nolan and Max Kennedy can earn promotion from the HotelPlanner Tour this year.
“Paul McGinley was saying when he grew up on tour there were loads of Irish out there and the craic was had every evening so looking forward to starting that pathway and having loads of us out there.
“You go through periods where you feel like you are out there on your own. Harrington was in the middle east when I was there so I managed to have some dinner with him and pick his brain for a couple of weeks which was good.
“It’s like starting a new job in a sense really, get used to the people you are playing with and have a few friends out there so I am getting there.”
For Liam Nolan and Max Kennedy, their promotion hopes will harbour on a hectic European schedule with events on the continent from next week until October’s double bill in China.
A re-rank will come after next month’s Swiss Challenge which could be important for Nolan as he looks to get a full card for the remainder of the campaign to supplement his promotion push.
It’s been a positive start to life on the HotelPlanner Tour for the former Irish international teammates with Nolan sitting in eleventh place after six events thanks to finishes of 3rd and 4th in his first two starts in South Africa while Kennedy is 75th as he looks to push on towards the top-50 and the Road to Mallorca Grand Final.
The HotelPlanner Tour returns at the Spanish Challenge next week and another opportunity knocks for Mark Power who can push his way back towards the Grand Final places with another strong finish.
The Kilkenny man finished in sixth place on his first start of the season and will need to make the most of his invites if he is to at least secure full status for next season if not push for an outside chance at a DP World Tour card.
The top-20 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings secure DP World Tour cards.
Lauren Walsh is gunning for her maiden LET win having knocked on the door on several occasions over the last twelve months.
After a stop in Korea next week, the LET runs in Europe all the way until October and the Castlewarden woman believes a return to the continent for the first time this season could spark a winning week.
“I think it’s close, it’s just about getting everything together at the right time. It will happen so just allowing it to happen and if I get into the right mindset and play the golf I know I am capable of, I’ve been close a couple of times so I know it is there,” said Walsh.
“It’s just about timing and it all coming together so I am excited for plenty more opportunities this year.”
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