Marc Warren regains DP World Tour card after Mallorca fightback

Marc Warren has earned a return to the DP World Tour, ending a three-year absence after finishing joint fifth at the HotelPlanner Tour grand final in Mallorca. BBC Sport reported that the Scot's late recovery lifted him into the qualifying places for next season, with a birdie at the last helping complete his comeback.

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The 45-year-old was the oldest competitor in the field and began the tournament in 20th place in the Road to Mallorca standings. Only the top 15 would secure promotion. At the turn in the final round, he had dropped to a projected 22nd, leaving him outside the group set to gain main-tour cards.

Warren recovered over the closing eight holes to finish 13th in the season standings. His joint-fifth tournament finish left him seven strokes behind winner Julien Sale. The result restores main-tour status to a player with four victories at that level and a career-best world ranking of 48.

In comments to the Scotsman carried by BBC Sport, Warren explained that checking the leaderboard had made the requirement on the final hole clear: he needed a birdie three. He said there was no room for a cautious approach and described the satisfaction of making the putt in front of family and friends.

Sale won the tournament by four strokes, securing his first promotion to the main tour at the age of 29. The Frenchman's victory also took him to second in the season standings, behind Hamish Brown. Brown finished runner-up in the finale and retained first place across the campaign.

Brown, 27, had first qualified for the main tour in 2024. He acknowledged that his previous season on the DP World Tour had been difficult, but said that experience meant he now knew what to expect. BBC Sport reported that the Danish-born golfer welcomed the return and took encouragement from winning the season-long title.

English players John Gough and Will Enefer also finished inside the promotion places, taking 10th and 12th respectively in the final standings. Warren joined them after turning a position outside the qualifying cut-off into a successful end to his season.