Revived Ryder Cup Star Chases DP World Tour Lifeline After Career Resurgence
Jan 8, 2026; Lecanto, Florida, United States; Chris Wood tees off on the first tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Black Diamond Ranch golf tournament at Black Diamond Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-Imagn Images
Jan 8, 2026; Lecanto, Florida, United States; Chris Wood tees off on the first tee during the first round of the LIV Golf Black Diamond Ranch golf tournament at Black Diamond Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-Imagn Images
England’s Chris Wood took a break from competition three years ago after losing his playing rights on the DP World Tour. Now, he is back at the Danish Golf Challenge this week reclaim his DP World Tour card.
Prior to this week’s Danish Golf Challenge, Wood opened up about his ambition to secure more wins and return to the European Tour.
“So one of my targets is to compete and play like I’ve not won in Italy. And you never know, number two might come along. And then really, you’re only week away from the Golden Ticket. One of the 15 is the primary goal, for sure,” said Wood.
82nd Italian Open Championship 2025 DP World Tour Signage during the second round of the 82nd Italian Open Championship, Argentario GC, Monte Argentario, Italy. 27/06/2025 Picture: Golffile Stefano DiMaria All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Stefano DiMaria Copyright: xStefanoxDiMariax *EDI*
82nd Italian Open Championship 2025 DP World Tour Signage during the second round of the 82nd Italian Open Championship, Argentario GC, Monte Argentario, Italy. 27/06/2025 Picture: Golffile Stefano DiMaria All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Stefano DiMaria Copyright: xStefanoxDiMariax *EDI*
The HotelPlanner Tour provides a pathway to the DP World Tour by offering cards to its top 15 players. Wood is aiming for exactly that.
Wood’s journey to the HotelPlanner Tour was not smooth. At the end of 2025, Wood found himself out of both the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour.
The 38-year-old then joined the MENA Tour, and won three events in a short span. He was then on his way back to Europe’s second tier.
After a two-month wait, Wood featured on the HotelPlanner Tour and continued his fine run of form. At the Italian Challenge Open, Wood won by a stroke over Portugal’s Tomás Gouveia.
“I am coming to events feeling much better prepared to compete, whereas for the last five, six years, I’ve been coming to events trying to find a golf swing really and being in a really tough place mentally. I’m now feeling in a better position to compete,” Wood said.
Wood requires more than just one victory to get the ‘golden ticket’ back to the DP World Tour.
Wood was a mainstay on the European Tour before his hiatus.
Wood Previously On The European Tour
Wood took a brief retirement in 2023 and even failed to qualify for the European Tour in 2025. Prior to his struggles, Wood secured three DP World Tour titles.
The first of his three victories came in Qatar. In 2013, Wood secured the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters by one stroke over South Africa’s George Coetzee and Spain’s Sergio Garcia.
Two years later, Wood shot 15-under par at the Lyoness Open as he won his second title on the tour. The Englishman edged Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello by two strokes.
His highest-profile win came at Wentworth, where he lifted the 2016 BMW PGA Championship. He secured the title by one stroke over Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg.
This win handed him an automatic selection for the 2016 Ryder Cup as he reached a career-high ranking of 22 in the OWGR.
Wood will certainly hope to be back on the European Tour, but to do so, he will need to get his hands on one of the 15 cards given by the HotelPlanner Tour.
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Written by
Avishek Sarkar
Edited by
Pulkit Prabhav