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After six gruelling rounds spanning 108 holes, the final stage of the DP World Tour’s Q-School has concluded at Infinitum in Spain. Twenty players successfully navigated the marathon tournament to secure their playing futures on Europe’s biggest stage for 2027.
Top Finishers and LIV Golf Connections
Jose Luis Ballester, a former US Amateur champion who previously moved to LIV Golf, finished tied at the top of the leaderboard at 32-under-par alongside fellow Spaniard Rocco Repetto Taylor. Ballester made his professional debut with LIV Golf in June 2025 in Virginia before the Saudi-funded league faced bankruptcy.
Both Ballester and his LIV colleague Byeong Hun An entered Q-School after being left without a tour following the start-up league’s dissolution. Both players successfully earned Category 18 playing rights on the DP World Tour for the upcoming season, which typically grants between 15 and 24 starts. An shot a 5-under final round on the Lakes Course in Tarragona to finish in a tie for eighth place alongside Jannik de Bruyn and Scotland’s Ryan Lumsden.
Dramatic Rallies and Notable Qualifiers
Tom Lewis produced one of the tournament’s standout stories, carding a 63 on day five followed by a 68 on Wednesday that featured 16 pars, a birdie, and an eagle on the 18th hole. His tie for fourth place capped off a remarkable recovery after he narrowly missed the top 21 in the previous qualifying round at Fontanals.
Stuck in standstill traffic on his way home, Lewis learned that a playoff had to be held on Monday morning due to a weather delay in the final round. He won the playoff to become the eighth alternate, securing his spot in the 156-player field at Infinitum.
Current Ryder Cup assistant captain Edoardo Molinari shot a 4-under final round to squeeze into a group tied for 14th, securing the final tier of DP World Tour status which was awarded to the top 15 and ties. He was joined in that group by recent Hong Kong Open winner John Catlin—who also made sporadic appearances in the LIV Golf League and secured starts at The Open and the Masters—and Ben Schmidt of Rotherham Golf Club, who carded a bogey-free 66 on Wednesday.
Other Notable Results
Several high-profile names failed to secure their cards. LIV Golfer and former DP World Tour winner Elvis Smylie finished three shots shy of the 25-under cut-off, while former Ryder Cupper Thomas Pieters finished in a tie for 45th and nine-time DP World Tour winner Pablo Larrazabal ended up tied for 53rd. American Alex Goff opened with a brilliant 62 to lead early on, but subsequent rounds of 73, 69, and 72 caused him to miss the cut.
The full list of players who earned Category 18 status for 2027 includes Jose Luis Ballester, Rocco Repetto Taylor, Cameron John, Ivan Cantero, Tom Lewis, Adam Blomme, David Nyfjall, Byeong Hun An, Jannik de Bruyn, Ryan Lumsden, Paul Beauvy, Marcus Helligkilde, Albin Bergstrom, Niklas Lemke, John Catlin, Ben Schmidt, Edoardo Molinari, Jansen Preston, Philipp Katich, and Matteo Cristoni.
Infinitum has secured its role as host for the Qualifying School Final Stage through 2027 by agreeing to a three-year deal with the DP World Tour. This extension ensures the venue’s Lakes and Hills courses will host the six-round event for nine consecutive years, coinciding with major enhancements to the Hills layout.
