Everything players need to know about earning status and securing starts next season
With entries for the three 2026/27 MENA Golf Tour Qualifying Schools opening on Thursday 3 September at 12:00pm GST/9:00am BST, players are already planning their routes onto the Tour. This guide explains how the exemption categories work, what each one means, and how to secure your place in tournament fields next season.
How the system works
Every player on the MENA Golf Tour holds an exemption category, and tournament fields are filled in category order. The lower your category number, the stronger your guarantee of a start. Categories 1 and 2 give a place in every tournament, Category 3 puts Qualifying School graduates right behind them, and the categories below provide playing opportunities as field sizes allow.
For players not yet on the Tour, the message is simple: the Qualifying Schools in October are the most direct route to guaranteed golf in 2026/27.
The categories in full
Category 1 – Tournament Winners
All winners of MENA Golf Tour tournaments in the 2025/26 season. Winners during the 2026/27 season will move into Category 1 and remain there for that season and two further seasons following their victory. Win once, and your status is secure for the best part of three years.
Category 2 – Leading 40 from the 2025/26 Order of Merit
The leading 40 members from the final 2025/26 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit, fully exempt for the new season.
Category 3 – Qualifying School Top 10
The leading 10 players from each of the three 2026/27 Qualifying Schools, staged in the UK and the United States. Ties for positions 1–9 inclusive will be decided by scorecard count-back as set out under Committee Procedures 5A(6)d in the Rules of Golf. Ties for 10th position will be decided by a hole-by-hole play-off. Thirty exempt places are available across the three schools.
Category 4 – MENA Golf Tour Invitations
A maximum of 10 players per tournament. Should an invited player win, they will have 72 hours following their victory to join the MENA Golf Tour and will move into Category 1, with the victory counting towards the 2026/27 Order of Merit.
Category 5 – Host Venue Country Amateur Invitations
A maximum of five leading amateurs from the Host Venue Country, as determined by the relevant National Federation in consultation with the MENA Golf Tour. The same 72-hour rule applies: win, join the Tour, and move straight into Category 1.
Category 6 – Host Venue Country Professional Invitations
A maximum of five professionals from the Host Venue Country, as determined by the relevant National Federation or PGA in consultation with the MENA Golf Tour, with the same 72-hour route into Category 1 for a winner.
Category 7 – HotelPlanner Tour Members
Any member of the HotelPlanner Tour in 2026 Categories 1–14. Eligible members will be ranked sequentially, beginning with the highest-ranked player on the HotelPlanner Tour.
Category 8 – Asian Tour Members
Any member of the Asian Tour in 2026 Categories 1–10.
Category 9 – Recognised OWGR Tours
The leading 30 players from each of the following tours, determined by their respective Orders of Merit: Clutch Pro Tour (Tier 1), Alps Tour Golf, ECCO Tour, Pro Golf Tour, Tartan Tour, Asian Development Tour, All Thailand Golf Tour, Gira de Golf Mexicana and GPro Tour.
Category 10 – 2025/26 Order of Merit positions 41–70
Members finishing between 41st and 70th in the final 2025/26 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit.
Category 11 – Qualifying School positions 11–20
Players finishing between 11th and 20th, including ties for 20th, at each of the three 2026/27 Qualifying Schools. Even outside the top 10, a strong week at Q School earns real playing opportunities.
Category 12 – 2025/26 Order of Merit positions 71 and below
Members finishing 71st and below in the final 2025/26 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit.
Category 13 – Qualifying School Participants
Players who compete in one or more of the three 2026/27 Qualifying Schools but do not earn a higher exemption category. Simply teeing it up at Q School puts you ahead of players who did not enter.
Category 14 – MENA Golf Tour Members Playing Through Invitations
Players who join the Tour, pay the annual membership fee and compete through tournament invitations. Any prize money won in official tournaments counts towards the 2026/27 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit.
What to do next
Entries for all three Qualifying Schools on Thursday 3 September at 12:00pm GST/9:00am BST.
| Date | Event | Venue |
| 1–2 October | Qualifying School – UK | Dalmahoy, Edinburgh |
| 13–15 October | Qualifying School – USA | Slammer & Squire, Florida |
| 20–21 October | Qualifying School – UK | RAC, Epsom |
The season begins in Egypt on 28 November, with a minimum of 12 tournaments and at least $1.2 million in prize money across 2026/27. Entry fees remain $550 per tournament, annual membership remains $995, and every regular Tour event carries a minimum $100,000 prize fund.
Entries open Thursday 3 September at 12:00pm GST/9:00am BST.
ENDS
