As we look ahead to another year of drama on the DP World Tour, who might be some of the names we are talking about?
Away from the established global superstars, we highlight some of the new and emerging figures hoping to enjoy a strong 2026.
Cameron Adam
Topped the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking last year to earn his rookie season on the DP World Tour. The left-handed Scot, mentored by Robert MacIntyre through the Stephen Gallacher Foundation's "buddy" system, studied at Northwestern University in Chicago and capped his amateur career by representing Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Cypress Point Club. Shortly prior to that, he impressed on his DP World Tour debut as an invite at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, finishing in a tie for 19th, and made his first Major Championship appearance at The Open at Royal Portrush. Now, the 2023 Scottish amateur champion is out to make his mark amid the opportunity to challenge himself around the world.
Hugo Townsend
The son of English golfer Peter Townsend, a two-time Ryder Cup player. Born in Ireland, he grew up in Sweden and represents the country of his mother Sofia. Graduated in 2023 from the University of Mississippi, after transferring there from Boise State. In the same year, he finished 11th on his DP World Tour debut at the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed before turning professional. He has since played on the Nordic Golf League and HotelPlanner Tour, securing promotion to the DP World Tour for the first time by finishing 16th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings after victory at the GAC Rosa Challenge Tour in Poland last year. The early signs are encouraging as he begins life as a DP World Tour member, impressing at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
Oihan Guillamoundeguy
The latest off the French production line, he will hope to take inspiration from the success his countryman Martin Couvra enjoyed on his way to being named 2025 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year. Having turned profesisonal in 2022, he finished fourth on the Alps Tour order of merit to graduate onto the HotelPlanner Tour for 2024. After finishing 49th in his debut season on the Road to Mallorca, he won the Irish Challenge and added a further eight top tens as he finished fifth on the standings to seal his promotion to golf's global Tour for 2026. Having dreamed of being a motocross rider when he was young, he had emergency surgery for a heart condition when he was 12. Now thriving at 21, life is on the up and he is hoping he can embrace the inevitable rollercoaster that a rookie season will bring.
Davis Bryant
The American made a strong start to his second consecutive season on the DP World Tour with back-to-back top 20s in Australia during the Opening Swing, having regained his playing rights again through Qualifying School. After a top-five finish at the BMW International Open last year, he appeared on track to keep his card but he made only one top 20 in his next seven starts and was forced to turn his attention to the closing events of the year on the HotelPlanner Tour. Told the DP World Tour shortly after graduating from Qualifying School that he felt better prepared for his second season and has recently broken into the world's top 300 for the first time. It was only a year and a half ago that he was playing mini tour events stateside.
Daniel Rodrigues
Since the inception of the DP World Tour in 1972, 110 Portuguese players have competed on golf’s global Tour with just five of those making 50 or more appearances and José-Filipe Lima and Daniel Silva the only two to have won a title. Rodrigues is the newest hope. The former top-ranked amateur in his home country, he graduated from Texas A&M University in 2024. Played predominantly on the HotelPlanner Tour through invites after initially gaining some experience in the paid ranks on the Portugal Tour. Having carded six sub-70 rounds to finish in a tie for fifth at Final Stage of Qualifying School to celebrate hard-earned DP World Tour status, the 23-year-old has shown signs of his potential already during the Opening Swing.
Kazuma Kobori
The best known of these shortlisted six players, arguably. The New Zealander earned his DP World Tour card for 2025 by winning the 2023/24 Challenger PGA TOUR of Australasia Order of Merit, claiming three titles in the space of four weeks. Across his 29 starts last season, his highlight was finishing runner-up at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, adding a further two top tens across his debut DP World Tour campaign as he finished 44th on the Race to Dubai. Having played alongside Ryder Cup player MacIntyre during the DP World Tour Play-Offs in Abu Dhabi towards the end of his rookie campaign, he said the experience served as a reminder of the strides he has to make if he is to take the next steps in his career.
