GOLF – AS Mena Golf Tour graduate Matt Fitzpatrick celebrates his third DP World Tour Championship title following Sunday’s dramatic play-off victory over Rory McIlroy, the Tour that helped launch his career returns to action on Thursday as Q School tees off at Troia Golf Course in Portugal over the weekend, marking the first step in the highly anticipated comeback season.
The 54-hole qualifier will determine membership and category status for the 2025-26 season, opening the door for ambitious professionals from across the region and beyond to compete on the Middle East and North Africa’s (Mena) only Official World Golf Ranking-recognised circuit.
Q School marks the beginning of a player-first season featuring 12 events across Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, and the GCC. Every regular-season tournament carries a guaranteed, tax-free $100,000 prize fund with payouts initiated within 48 hours of the final putt. The schedule has been intelligently routed in logical territory swings to minimise travel time and costs for players.
Following Q School, the regular season launches immediately with back-to-back events in Portugal: the PGA Aroeira Challenge (November 25 to 27) and the Rolear Algarve Classic at Amendoeira (December 2 to 4).
The Tour then moves into a four-event Egypt Swing in January and February before heading to Morocco, where a mid-season Q-Sprint (February 22 and 23) will offer newcomers a second chance to qualify and current members an opportunity to improve their category via re-rank, with a $50,000 purse up for grabs.
Fitzpatrick, who competed on the Mena Golf Tour early in his professional career, has praised the Tour’s return and its commitment to supporting emerging talent.
“To give players an opportunity is always a real positive and the guaranteed prize fund is massive,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s a fantastic initiative to be able to do that and support the guys.
“Hopefully, it’s a good testing ground; if you can win a few times out there, then that bodes well for progressing to the next level.”
Mena Golf Tour chairman and commissioner Keith Waters said Fitzpatrick’s latest triumph – and the return of Q School this week – perfectly illustrates what the Tour is all about.
“To see Matt win the DP World Tour Championship for the third time, beating Rory in a play-off, is a wonderful reminder of the calibre of player who has come through the Mena Golf Tour,” said Waters.
“Thursday marks the start of something special – the reopening of a proven pathway that has already produced Major champions, Ryder Cup stars, and multiple DP World Tour winners.
“Q School is where careers begin. We’ve seen it time and again with the likes of Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre, Thriston Lawrence, and Todd Clements, all of whom used the Mena Golf Tour as their springboard to the elite level.”
The Mena Golf Tour is in active discussions with the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour to formalise progression opportunities for leading players, including direct access to DP World Tour Qualifying School and status pathways on the HotelPlanner Tour.
&uuid=(email))