HotelPlanner Tour: Morrison celebrates triumph - Tour tickets allocated

The Rolex Grand Final of the HotelPlanner Tour last weekend at the Club de Golf Alcanada not only delivered the final title of the season, but also maximum drama. The Tour (formerly the Challenge Tour) final traditionally decided the awarding of the coveted playing rights for the DP World Tour season: the top 20 golfers in the annual ranking, known as the Road to Mallorca, received the full card.

The showdown on the Balearic island ended with one of the most emotional stories of the year: England's James Morrison, who had already considered ending his career, celebrated an unexpected victory and thus saved himself in Europe's highest division. At the same time, all three German-speaking professionals who competed - the Austrians Maximilian Steinlechner and Lukas Nemecz and the German Anton Albers - were able to secure their eligibility to play on the DP World Tour 2026.

James Morrison's golf fairytale at the Grand Final of the HotelPlanner Tour

James Morrison played the leading role in this golf fairytale. The 40-year-old Englishman, a two-time DP World Tour winner, had endured a difficult time after losing his card the previous year and assumed that the Rolex Grand Final would be his last professional appearance. However, with a strong performance in the opening rounds, culminating in a bogey-free 65 on Saturday, he laid the foundations for a triumphant success.

Despite initial nervousness on the final day, which was reflected in Bogeys on holes 1 and 2, Morrison stabilized his game. Supported by his 13-year-old son Finley as his caddie, he played the decisive Birdies on the back nine. His narrow victory with a three-shot lead catapulted him from 36th place to 6th place in the season rankings.

Morrison was visibly moved by his success with his son at his side. He commented openly on the change in his life plans: "When I said this would be my last event, it really was 100 percent true. This has completely turned everything upside down." Even on the last hole, where the pressure almost became his undoing, his joy could not be dampened: "That last swing, I couldn't feel my arms. The ball went so far to the right. But I didn't care. A win is a win."

He looked back on his experience with relief: "I'm glad it's over, to put it that way. But I played well all week. Not quite as well today, but I got my emotions under control and fell back on my wins on the DP World Tour. The wind really helped me today because I knew the tougher it got, the more it would play into my hands."

The crowning glory of the season: J.C. Ritchie number one on the HotelPlanner Tour

While Morrison secured the final title, J.C. Ritchie (South Africa) crowned himself the sovereign winner of the Road to Mallorca Rankings and thus the "HotelPlanner Tour Number One" with his seventh place in the final. Ritchie, who has celebrated three victories this season, is the first South African to achieve this success.

Ritchie reflected on his performance: "It hasn't really sunk in yet. I don't understand what I've achieved. I think I've had an incredible season. It's been a dream season for me. One of my first coaches told me to try and be the best on every Tour before moving up or getting into the top ten. I'm really happy with the work I've put in."

The German-speaking rising stars in detail

The final brought good news for German-speaking golf fans: All three participants secured a card for the next higher division. The distribution of playing rights is decisive: ranks 1 to 20 receive full playing rights (category 15), while ranks 21 to 30 receive restricted playing rights (category 20), which still allows them to start in the DP World Tour.

Maximilian Steinlechner: The top climber

The 25-year-old Austrian Maximilian Steinlechner made the most of his consistently strong season, which culminated in a home win. Despite a mixed final tournament (tied 31st place), in which holes 8 and 18 on the final day proved to be his undoing, he finished the season in an outstanding 3rd place in the overall rankings. Steinlechner thus confidently secured full eligibility for the 2026 DP World Tour.

Lukas Nemecz & Anton Albers: The conditional Tour cards

The two other pros in the field also secured their place in the professional upper house - albeit with limited eligibility (category 20):

• Lukas Nemecz (Austria): He finished the tournament in T34th place and the season in 22nd place on the Road to Mallorca. This meant he narrowly missed out on the full card, but will receive the all-important restricted playing authorization (category 20) for the DP World Tour.
• Anton Albers (Germany): The German battled his way to T27th place in the tournament with a round of 70 on the final day. He finished 25th in the season rankings and also secured a restricted DP World Tour card.