Wenyi Ding Chooses to Turn Pro and Give Up Major Starts in 2025

Wenyi Ding, the Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, has made a bold decision to forego two guaranteed Major starts in 2025 in order to turn professional on the DP World Tour. The 19-year-old golfer secured his biggest career victory at the Taiheiyo Club in Japan, defeating his compatriot Ziqin Zhou by one stroke after a thrilling final round.

Despite earning the right to play at The Masters, The Open Championship, and The Amateur Championship next year, Ding has opted to pursue his professional career immediately through the Global Amateur Pathway route. This pathway offers one DP World Tour card to the top non-collegiate golfer who is under 20 years old, making Ding eligible as he turns 20 in November.

Ding’s decision comes after a successful freshman campaign at ASU, where he set a college record by winning the Amer Ari Invitational by nine strokes. With multiple top-five finishes and a victory at the Southern Amateur, Ding has climbed to World No.4 in the WAGR rankings and now sits atop the Global Amateur Pathway ranking.

In an emotional post-round interview, Ding expressed his gratitude for the Asia-Pacific Amateur title and acknowledged the pressure he felt to perform well in his final amateur event. He joins the likes of Christo Lamprecht, who made a similar transition from amateur success to the professional ranks with mixed results on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Ding’s decision to forgo guaranteed Major starts in favor of immediate professional development showcases his determination to succeed at the highest level of the sport. Golf fans will be eager to see how the talented young golfer fares as he embarks on this new chapter in his career on the DP World Tour.