Confirmed: Hojgaard will not get PGA Tour card despite Meronk going to LIV Golf

Rasmus Hojgaard will not receive his PGA Tour card this season despite Adrian Meronk signing for the LIV Golf League. 

Hojgaard, 22, was narrowly denied his first PGA Tour card after finishing one spot outside the top 10 in the Race to Dubai Rankings last season.

As part of a new initiative between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour in 2023, the top 10 players on the former European Tour circuit that were not already exempt on the PGA Tour received cards for the 2024 season. 

Meronk took the top spot following a three-victory season that also saw him beat Rory McIlroy to the Player of the Year vote on the DP World Tour. 

McIlroy, however, did win the Race to Dubai for a fifth time as he goes in search of Colin Montgomerie's record of eight. 

Ryan Fox, Victor Perez, Thorbjorn Olesen, Alex Bjork, Sami Valimaki, Robert MacIntyre, Matthieu Pavon, Jorge Campillo and Ryo Hisatsune also secured their playing privileges on the PGA Tour through the Race to Dubai Rankings in 2023. 

Hojgaard agonisingly finished in the 11th spot following a disappointing last few holes at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November 2023.

The Dane did take consolation from watching his twin brother Nicolai Hojgaard win the season finale though. 

Pavon has wasted little time in putting his PGA Tour card to good use by becoming the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour following a one-stroke victory over Nicolai Hojgaard at last week's Farmers Insurance Open at famed Torrey Pines. 

Watch: PGA Tour fans question Pavon's actions in rough down 18

Olesen might not have won on the PGA Tour, but he did win in Ras Al Khaimah on the DP World Tour last week with Rasmus taking the runner-up spot. 

Last week marked the first time in history that brothers finished runner-up on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. 

Just had it confirmed from the DP World Tour that Rasmus Hojgaard will NOT receive his PGA Tour card as a result of Adrian Meronk moving to LIV Golf today. pic.twitter.com/E5iBzBZ09L

— Andy Roberts (@AndyRobertsGolf) January 31, 2024

Rasmus Hojgaard will not receive his PGA Tour card

All eyes where last year's 10 cards are concerned have been drawn to Poland's Meronk this week, a player who despite earning his PGA Tour membership for the first time in his career has now accepted a fee to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. 

Meronk has agreed to join Martin Kaymer's Cleeks GC, which also comprises Richard Bland and new signing Kalle Samooja, ahead of LIV Golf's first event of the 2024 season at Mayakoba in Mexico. 

Some golf fans have speculated whether Hojgaard would get to pick up his PGA Tour card as a result of Meronk going to LIV Golf and him being next in line, but the DP World Tour has confirmed to GolfMagic this will not be the case. 

All PGA Tour members that compete in LIV Golf League tournaments remain suspended until further notice. 

The case built for Hojgaard's PGA Tour card appeared a strong one especially given Meronk had yet to even play in a PGA Tour event this season.

He was due to compete in the Farmers Insurance Open but chose to withdraw just before the first round. 

Meronk has only played in two DP World Tour events this year prior to his LIV Golf debut this week, with two impressive results of 10th and second in Dubai.

It's unfortunately tough luck for Hojgaard, and a case of the rules are the rules. 

DP World Tour told GolfMagic:

So despite the PGA Tour banging the drum that a full 10 cards would be available for DP World Tour members this season, it ultimately turned out to be nine. 

Meronk's team has confirmed he wishes to remain a DP World Tour member despite having joined LIV Golf.

Hojgaard, already a four-time DP World Tour winner, lines up as a warm tournament favourite at the DP World Tour's Bahrain Championship this week.

The talented Dane will certainly be hopeful of earning one of the 10 available PGA Tour cards this season on the DP World Tour given he is arguably the best player on the circuit not fully exempt in 2024. 

Departing DP World Tour boss Keith Pelley sent a memo to members today outlining his initial thoughts on the landmark PGA Tour agreement with Strategic Sports Group.

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What do you make of the ruling to not allow Rasmus Hojgaard the opportunity to pick up Adrian Meronk's card on the PGA Tour this season? Will Hojgaard earn his PGA Tour card at the end of this season? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.

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