The EuroDov Tour has announced a fundamental restructuring of its competitive framework, with Commissioner David McColgan confirming that Q-School will be removed from the 2026 calendar and the Order of Merit will be opened to all players. The decision, described as both pragmatic and forward-looking, is set to reshape the Tour’s entry pathways and end-of-season championship qualification.

From Modest Beginnings to a Flourishing Circuit

The Order of Merit, now the heartbeat of the EuroDov Tour, was first introduced in 2021, when just seven players competed for the inaugural James Braid Quaich. Since then, the competition has grown in stature, alongside the Tour itself, becoming the yardstick by which players measure success and progression.

In 2024, to cope with rising interest and an expanding player base, the Tour introduced Q-School – a qualifying event designed to allow newcomers a pathway into the Order of Merit season. The inaugural edition proved a success, with Scott Gowens emerging victorious, joined by Greig Baxter in earning coveted Order of Merit spots.

That initial year of Q-School was viewed as a turning point, demonstrating both the demand for competitive opportunities and the depth of talent vying to play on Tour.

The Rise and Fall of Q-School

However, by 2025, cracks began to appear in the system. While Q-School expanded from four players to six, the appetite for participation dwindled.

“In 2024, 20 out of 24 tee times were used across the season,” McColgan explained. “In 2025, that dropped to just 16 out of 36, marking a 50% rate of competition.”

Despite over half the players in the 2025 player survey agreeing that Q-School was “a good addition to the Tour,” the format wasn’t serving its intended purpose: offering fringe players meaningful competition and a route into the Order of Merit.

“The reality is,” McColgan added, “it is clearly not working for the players it was designed for.”

2026: A New Chapter

With immediate effect, the Tour has confirmed that Q-School will be removed from the 2026 tournament schedule. Instead, the Order of Merit will be opened up to all players who wish to participate – a radical shift that eliminates the barrier between full Tour players and qualifiers.

This means that every player entering the 2026 season will be eligible to compete in the entire regular season, from the St Andrews Open through to the Forrester-Lochgelly Open.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the top 12 players in the Order of Merit standings will automatically qualify for the Tour Championships, the prestigious finale that crowns the season.

In addition, exemptions will be granted to:

Any player outside the top 12 who has won the Tour Champs in the past two years

Any player who wins a regular season event in that calendar year

This ensures that both season-long consistency and big-event brilliance are rewarded, while still allowing room for the Tour’s most decorated champions to feature at the business end of the season.

Protecting Current Players

One of the key concerns addressed in McColgan’s announcement was the future of players who had either competed in Q-School or finished in relegation spots on the 2025 Order of Merit.

“For those players, there is nothing to fear about their Tour participation,” McColgan assured. “They will be part of the expanded Order of Merit structure in 2026.”

This provides stability for existing members while also opening the door for new players, avoiding the risk of alienating those who had previously bought into the Q-School system.

The Big Picture

The decision marks another turning point in the evolution of the EuroDov Tour. From its humble beginnings just four years ago, the Order of Merit has become the central competitive structure of the Tour. Removing Q-School and moving to a more inclusive model reflects both the lessons of the past two seasons and the desire to simplify the path for aspiring players.

For McColgan, the change is about ensuring the Tour remains accessible while maintaining the prestige of its biggest prizes.

“The Order of Merit has grown every year, and this change allows it to remain at the heart of the Tour’s competitive fabric,” the Commissioner concluded.

What It Means for 2026

No Q-School: Direct entry into the Order of Merit for all interested players

Full Season Access: Every entrant eligible to play all regular-season events

Tour Champs Qualification: Top 12 in Order of Merit standings + recent champions + current-year winners

Security for Current Players: No relegations, no exclusions – an open door policy

Final Word

The removal of Q-School is both the end of a short-lived experiment and the beginning of a new era. The EuroDov Tour has opted for simplicity, inclusivity, and competitive clarity. With an open Order of Merit and a streamlined qualification for the Tour Champs, the 2026 season promises to be one of the most engaging in the Tour’s young history.