What is the Hotel Planner Tour?
Formerly known as the Challenge Tour until Hotel Planner took over as naming sponsor this year, it is the DP World Tour’s version of the KFT. For Americans, the Tour is probably known most for the place where Brooks Koepka began his pro career. In 2012 Koepka missed at the second stage of PGA Tour Q-school, and headed to Europe to play the Challenge Tour. That year he had a win and another top five, earning his DP World Tour playing status for 2013. The rest, as they say, is history.
Facts:
The top 20 players in the season long points race will earn DP World Tour cards for 2026There are 29 events played across Europe, South Africa, and Asia. Most purses are around $300,000 USD, with a few up to $500,000. The Tour began in 1989
There are five mini-tours across Europe where the top-five from each order of merit earn status on the HP Tour the following year.
Americans in Contention for DP World Tour card:
Palmer Jackson- The former Notre Dame standout is in his first full season in Europe and won in his 10th start. The win came in the Czech Republic, where Jackson dominated, winning by six. The win is his only top-10 of the season so far, and he currently sits 20th in points. With 20 DP World Tour cards available at the end of the season, the pressure is on.
Davis Bryant- The Denver native had the mini-tour season of a lifetime last year and kept the momentum going into European Tour Q-school. Although he earned his DP World Tour card, he hasn’t been able to take advantage of the few starts he has gotten there, so has concentrated mostly on the HP Tour. He has four top-10s in just 13 starts and currently sits 27th points, just outside the number.
Nick Carlson- The former golf coach, delivery driver, and substitute teacher currently sits 35th in points. Carlson has done anything to keep his dreams alive and after getting status through Q-school, has taken advantage.
Matt Oshrine- The 28-year-old Oshrine has spent the last two seasons on the HP Tour. Last year he had his first career win but fell short of earning his DP World Tour card. This year, he has a third and fifth and sits 43rd in points.
Dan Erickson- The Texas native has spent most of his pro career on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, but earned his DP World Tour card via Q-school. In his limited starts on DP, Erickson has played well with three top-20 finishes. Along with that he has played 12 events on the HP and currently sits 45th in points.
Stories of other players:
Josh Berry- In 2023, Berry became the 2nd youngest player ever to earn a DP World Tour card at age 18. Only Rory was younger when he got his card. After earning his card, Berry turned pro and struggled making just three of 17 cuts. Although he got his DP card back via Q-school, Berry has concentrated on HP and it has paid off: he has a win and two runner-ups so far, and sits atop the points list heading into Ireland.
Daniel Von Tonder- The South African had a dream start to the HP season winning the first two events and leading every single round in both. He then was in contention at the third event before finishing T6. Although he has played just five events so far on the HP Tour, Von Tonder sits sixth in points.
Eddie Pepperell- The two-time European Tour winner finds himself back on the HP Tour for the first time since 2012. The season so far has been a mix of poor play, burnout, and some horrible luck. After playing poorly to start the year, Pepperell put the clubs away and didn’t touch them for six weeks, skipping multiple events. Soon after coming back from his break, he was leading after three rounds when his back seized up. He was forced to WD. The Englishman sits 74th in points.
Tom Lewis- The once heralded English amateur is back on the HP Tour after losing his card following the 2024 season. The 34-year-old Lewis led the Open Championship as an amateur in 2011. His 65 tied the lowest score shot by an amateur in major championship history. Later that year, Lewis turned pro and promptly won on the European Tour just a month later. He seemed destined for stardom, but pro golf can be cruel. It would be another seven years until Lewis picked up his second win on the Euro Tour and soon after that win his struggles began again.
Vince Van Veen- The man’s name is Vince Van Veen, or as I called him at Q-school in Spain, Triple V. What is there not to love? He also shot 59 in the third round of Q-school. Triple V has some game.
The Course:
The Nicklaus designed Killeen Castle Golf Club can play up to 7,700 yards and is an absolute beast. Considered by many the hardest course in Ireland and amongst the hardest in the entire world, this week will test the players. The 78.3 course rating is actually a bit higher than Oakmont which is 77.5. (Obviously the U.S Open conditions make Oakmont much more difficult, just including the rating for some context). The wind is supposed to blow this week, so depending on setup, we could really see carnage.
