Paul McGinley says it’s ‘clear’ what change needs to happen in professional golf as 2024 season comes to an end

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The autumnal stretch of the DP World Tour season provided some of the most iconic moments of 2024.

Billy Horschel’s BMW PGA Championship win at Wentworth will go down in tour history, as will Rasmus Hojgaard’s narrow Irish Open victory over Rory McIlroy.

The season’s final stretch has also been compelling. Paul Waring’s triumph in Abu Dhabi provided a heartwarming underdog story, and McIlroy 2024 in style at the DP World Tour Championship.

The DP World Tour’s legendary courses, strong fields, and history all make it a compelling product, and Paul McGinley believes preserving golf in Europe is essential as merger talks between the PIF and PGA Tour rumble on.

Paul McGinley: DP World Tour must remain

• READ MORE: Why the DP World Tour may have been an even bigger winner than Rory McIlroy at the weekend

Reports suggest the PIF is close to reaching a $1bn agreement with the PGA Tour, and it appears that the golfing landscape is set to change once more.

McGinley, however, believes golf in Europe should be at the “forefront” of the potentially new-looked golfing calendar.

“Europe has proved again that it has lots to offer in terms of its talent, history & culture. Any deal should continue to have Europe at the forefront of the golfing calendar at certain times of the year, hopefully with more of the world’s best players playing,” McGinley wrote.

DP World Tour must not be forgotten

The discourse throughout ongoing merger talks has centred around the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. However, it’s important to remember the DP World Tour’s place within the game.

Courses like Royal County Down, Wentworth, St Andrews, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and Le Golf National are unique and unlike anything seen on US soil.

For all its positives, the PGA Tour tends to host most of its events on pristine parkland courses. The variation is not there. The DP World Tour, however, has history on its side, along with some of the world’s top-rated venues.

McGinley’s view is spot on; whatever the future holds, utilising the DP World Tour’s iconic stretch of tournaments should be non-negotiable.