For Immediate Release:
DGPT Announces 2023 & 2024 Tour Card Qualification Methods
November 8th, 2022: At the start of the 2022 season, the DGPT launched a pilot Tour Card program designed to increase player benefits, improve experience and professionalism, and serve as one of the primary ways that players could register for DGPT events. After gathering feedback from the Tour Card player’s council, the DGPT is pleased to announce the Tour Card Program’s continued development and expansion.
2023 Tour Card Details
For the 2023 season, the top eighty MPO and forty FPO players in the 2022 DGPT points standings are now officially qualified for a 2023 Tour Card – an increase of five and fifteen qualification spots respectively as compared to 2021 points-based qualification (75 MPO and 25 FPO). The DGPT will also continue to provide exemptions for the Tour Card program. Ten MPO and five FPO exemptions will be granted for the 2023 Tour Card program based on DGPT points and PDGA ratings as well as considerations related to injury and international participation. Players seeking an exemption can apply via this form. 2023 Tour Card Registration will begin Tuesday, November 15, with final details on the Tour Card Program being made available for players on Friday, November 11.
While the Tour Card program is expanding, there will still be other methods to qualify for DGPT events in 2023. Full event registration details for the 2023 season will be announced on November 15, and will include regional qualifying events, week-of qualifiers, sponsor exemptions and tiered, ratings-based open registration. NADGT winners will also qualify for events based on the 2022 NADGT Championship results.
2024 Tour Card Details
In addition to points-based qualification and exemptions, the number of pathways to Tour Card qualification will be expanded for 2024 to include event-based qualification for top finishers at 2023 events. The DGPT will also launch a qualifying series – projected to include eight events – in 2023. This qualifying series will award six MPO and three FPO players with full Tour Cards for the 2024 season. Qualifying event winners will also earn a partial exemption that will give them access to six 2024 DGPT events.
Externally from the Tour Card program, players will be able to qualify for individual events on Tour based on regional and week of qualifiers, sponsorship exemptions, and open registration which will be tiered based on PDGA ratings.
A full table detailing the 2023 & 2024 Tour Card qualifying methods can be referenced below.
2023 Tour Card Qualifying Methods
| Qualification Method | Description | Details |
| 2022 Tour Points | Players can earn a 2023 Tour Card based on their 2022 season points total | Eligibility: Top 80 MPO players and top 40 FPO players |
| Exemptions | Will be granted based on DGPT points and PDGA rating as well as considerations related to injury and international participation. | Players are able to apply for a 2023 exemption starting today. The application can be found here. |
2024 Tour Card Qualifying Methods
| Qualification Method | Description | Details |
| 2022 Tour Championship Participation | All players who participated in the 2022 Tour Championship will automatically receive a 2024 Tour Card exemption | Applies to both FPO and MPO. This two-year exemption policy is expected to continue in the future. |
| 2023 Tour Championship Participation | All players who participated in the 2023 Tour Championship will automatically receive a full two-year Tour Card exemption (2024 & 2025) | Applies to both FPO and MPO. This two-year exemption policy is expected to continue in the future. |
| 2023 Tour Points | Players can earn a 2024 Tour Card based on their 2023 season points total | Eligibility: Top 80 MPO players and top 40 FPO players |
| 2023 Event Based Qualification | The top finishers at 2023 events will earn a 2024 Tour Card |
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| 2023 Qualifying Series
*more info below |
In 2023, there will be a series of events that will award Tour Card qualifying points. These points will be tracked separately and are not DGPT points that qualify players for the DGPT Championship. Players at the top of the points standings will earn a 2024 Tour Card. |
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| Exemptions | Will be granted based on DGPT points and PDGA rating as well as considerations related to injury and international participation. | Players will be able to apply for a 2024 exemption after the conclusion of the 2023 season. |
Additional Detail on the 2023 DGPT Qualifying Series
The DGPT is working with a set of 2023 PDGA tournaments to launch a pilot program of Tour Card qualifying events. This qualifying series will award points to the top finishers. These points are not “tour points” that qualify players for the DGPT Championship. Instead, the points awarded at qualifying events are only used to track performance on the DGPT Qualifying Series. At the end of the 2023 qualifying series, the top six MPO and top three FPO players in qualifier points standings will earn their 2024 Tour Card.
Additionally, the individual winners of each qualifier event will be allowed to register for a partial tour card that will allow them to compete at six 2024 DGPT events. If a qualifier event winner qualifies for a 2024 Tour Card via other methods, their partial Tour Card exemption will be passed to the second-place finisher at the event they won. These partial Tour Card exemptions will allow players to register for six DGPT events after registration is complete for the rest of the Tour Card player pool.
If a player within the top six (MPO) or top three (FPO) qualifying tour points spots at the end of the year earns their Tour Card via another method, their qualifying spot bumps down to the next player in the standings.
Any player who is already qualified for a 2024 Tour Card or otherwise becomes qualified via any other method is not eligible to participate in the qualifying points series. When these otherwise qualified players compete at a qualifying event, they will not impact the distribution of qualifying points.
The DGPT is actively taking applications for 2023 A-tier events to be included on the qualifying series schedule. B-tier events may also be considered. Tournament directors can apply here. The deadline to apply is the day before Thanksgiving – Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022.
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For media inquiries, please contact DGPT Communications Manager, Charles McCracken at charles@dgpt.com.
