Several Australasians fighting for survival in Europe
Australian Jason Scrivener makes good start in Paris – file image
With just five events remaining on the 2026 DP World Tour before the first of the two playoff events in Abu Dhabi in early November, several Australians face an important few weeks in their DP World Tour careers.
In order to make it to Abu Dhabi or perhaps even save their status on the DP World Tour they will need to finish inside the top 70 to gain access to the Abu Dhabi Championship, the top 50 to make it all the way to the DP World Tour Championship or be inside the top 115 to just retain their playing privileges for next season, unless otherwise exempt.
This week’s FedEx Open de France at Le Golf National near Paris is therefore an important week for several who ply their trade on the DP World Tour.
At the halfway stage of the event, Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick leads at 13 under, but West Australian Jason Scrivener has improved his chances of retaining his status for next season by opening with rounds of 65 and 70 to be sharing 11th place at 7 under and six behind Fitzpatrick.
Scrivener has yet to win on the DP World Tour, but he has regularly kept his status and has recorded several top 3 finishes, including when runner-up in Abu Dhabi in 2021.
He has improved to 102nd in the projected rankings as a result of his good start this week but still has work to do if he is to finish inside the top 115 in the Race to Dubai rankings by season’s end or, hopefully, make it to the Playoffs. After four missed cuts in succession, however, it is a good turnaround for the South African-born but now Perth-based golfer.
Queensland’s Anthony Quayle is another who needs a big finish to the season if he is to retain his standing after earning the right to play in Europe via the PGA Tour of Australasia in 2024/2025. Quayle opened with a round of 66 this week, but a second round of 72 now has him in 39th place heading into the weekend, improving slightly to 137th in the season-long standings.
Ryan Peake is another who earned the right to play in Europe via the PGA Tour of Australasia, where his performances included a win at the 2025 New Zealand Open.
Peake has missed the cut this week and has slipped to 166th in the Race to Dubai standings and will need something very special in the remaining few events of the season for which he is eligible. Peake has struggled for much of the season, missing 11 of his last 13 cuts.
Cam Smith and Kazuma Kobori both missed the cut this week, Smith’s immediate future in Europe is assured irrespective of what he decides to do with his LIV Golf involvement however. His Open Championship victory in 2022 gives him security of tenure for some time to come.
Kobori made it all the way to Dubai last season, but he is currently in 80th position in the Race to Dubai standings, and in order to even get to Dubai he has work to do over the next few events.
Elvis Smylie, Connor McKinney and David Micheluzzi also missed the cut by some margin this week, Smylie no doubt assured of some medical exemption in 2027 following rib issues keeping him out for 3 months this season. He is a LIV Golf member also, but where things stand there is anyone’s guess.
Micheluzzi and McKinney however, are 179th and 151st in the standings, and their immediate playing future in Europe looks in jeopardy.
