Fitzpatrick assures spot in play-offs

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 29, 2026

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick won the FedEx Open de France with a 20-under-par score, earning 835 Race to Dubai points and securing his place in the season-ending Play-Offs. His victory moves him up to ninth in the Race to Dubai Rankings as the tour enters its final stretch, where only the top 70 players will qualify for the Play-Offs starting with the Abu Dhabi Championship in November.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick secured the title at the FedEx Open de France on the DP World Tour, boosting his position in the Race to Dubai Rankings and confirming his spot in the season-ending Play-Offs. The tournament, held at Le Golf National in France, concluded with Fitzpatrick finishing 20 under par, marking the 11th DP World Tour victory of his career.

Fitzpatrick’s win earned him 835 Race to Dubai points, bringing his season total to 1,821 points and elevating him to ninth place in the rankings. His success at the French event came during the 36th tournament of the 42-event Race to Dubai season and the fifth event of the Back 9 series, which leads into the season’s final stretch of tournaments. Fitzpatrick’s strong performance further enhances his credentials; he holds three victories at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, with his most recent triumph in 2025.

The Play-Offs will commence with the Abu Dhabi Championship, scheduled from November 5 to 8 at Yas Links, followed by the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai from November 12 to 15. Only the top 70 players in the Race to Dubai Rankings will qualify for the Play-Offs, after which the field narrows to the top 50 for the final championship where the season champion is determined.

Meanwhile, UAE golfer Adrian Otaegui made steady progress by making the cut and competing in the final two rounds of the FedEx Open de France. Otaegui finished in 44th place and collected 27.5 Race to Dubai points, lifting his season total to 971 points and moving him up to 45th in the rankings. This performance improves his chances of qualifying for the Play-Offs as the competition intensifies with only four tournaments remaining before the season finale.

Supported by the Emirates Golf Federation, Otaegui has shown notable improvement compared to last season, when he ended the year ranked 122nd with roughly 459 points. His steady rise in the rankings places him within reach of the crucial top 70 cutoff needed to advance to the Play-Offs.

As the Race to Dubai season approaches its final phase, players are intensifying their efforts to secure positions in the prestigious Play-Offs events hosted in the UAE, where the overall tour champion will be crowned.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.