Golf fans across the globe are turning their attention to the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where Wenyi Ding, the rising star from China, is making his much-anticipated first appearance in a Rolex Series event. As the DP World Tour tees off its 2026 season in grand style, Ding’s journey from prodigy to professional is capturing headlines—not just for his remarkable talent, but for the resilience and determination that have brought him to this stage.
Ding’s story is one of persistence, patience, and a refusal to rush the process. Though he’s only 20 years old, his path to the DP World Tour has already spanned continents, languages, and a pandemic that threatened to derail his momentum. After a whirlwind rookie season in 2025—where he played 27 events across 22 countries, finishing 75th on the Race to Dubai Rankings and posting two top-ten finishes—Ding enters 2026 with a newfound steadiness and confidence.
Reflecting on his rookie campaign, Ding said, “I think I did pretty well last year. I saw sometimes, I made a lot of cuts and I was improving. I think it was a good first year. And this year I'm just trying to be better. I got a good start.” Those words ring especially true after his runner-up finish in the opening event of the 2026 season in Brisbane—a satisfying bookend to his debut at the same tournament, where he missed the cut just a year earlier.
Ding’s ascent began long before his professional debut. As a teenager, he made waves by finishing runner-up at the Volvo China Open on the China Tour as an amateur in 2020. But the Covid-19 pandemic forced him into an unexpected hiatus, stalling his ability to compete outside China. “I was just afraid to go out (of the country),” Ding recalled. “Because once I go out, I can't come back.” Despite the challenges, he continued to hone his game, winning the Boao Classic as an amateur and capturing the Chinese Amateur title for the third consecutive year.
When international travel resumed, Ding seized the opportunity to compete in the United States. In 2022, he made history as the first Chinese player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur. “Before I played the US junior, I don't feel I can win. I had no confidence. Because, like, before that I played two amateur tournaments. One I missed a cut, one I got like 30th or 40th something. I would say that win was a turning point for my whole life,” Ding said in an interview with the DP World Tour.
Rather than jumping straight into the professional ranks, Ding opted for college golf at Arizona State University in 2023 and 2024, prioritizing growth, education, and the chance to improve his English. “It's just a feeling, like I felt my game was not good enough to compete with a Tour player, and I should have some more times to do some practice. So that's why I went to college. I was doing the business communication. I was trying to learn because my English was not really good at that time, and everything was a little bit hard for me in school. But I enjoyed it.”
His decision paid off with further amateur success, including wins at the Amer Ari Invitational, the Southern Amateur, and the Asia-Pacific Amateur in 2024 after narrowly missing out in 2023. He was named Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in 2024, ascending to No. 3 in the world amateur rankings.
The launch of the Global Amateur Pathway (GAP)—a new initiative by the DP World Tour, PGA TOUR, and The R&A—presented Ding with a career-defining choice. The pathway offered a direct route to a DP World Tour card, but meant leaving ASU after just one year and forfeiting coveted Masters and U.S. Open exemptions. “After you graduate, you have to be like top five to get the Korn Ferry Tour card. So that's... you can't say something for the next three years, but right now you're guaranteed to have a card. It was hard for the Masters, but if I wait another half year, I’ll probably lose my card. So I was talking with my coach, with my friends, and I feel if I don't take it, I'll regret it. So I took the card and turned pro last year.”
Transitioning to the professional circuit at age 19, Ding wasted no time making an impression. He made his pro debut at the HotelPlanner Tour’s Hangzhou Open, finishing tied for 11th. Despite a missed cut at the BMW Australian PGA Championship—his first DP World Tour event—he rebounded with a top-five finish at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open on just his second start. Navigating the relentless travel, unfamiliar cities, and language barriers, Ding leaned on his father, his Scottish caddy John, and a growing network of friends and former college teammates for support.
“Last year it was like too much travel. Every country is my first time. I don’t know where I should go. After landing I had to rent a car. And my dad drives a car to the hotel and to a golf course. Every golf course is new,” Ding explained. The rookie season was a crash course in logistics and adaptation, with weeks spent as first reserve and the uncertainty of getting into events. Yet through it all, Ding’s talent and tenacity shone through.
His goals for 2026 are ambitious yet grounded: “First of all, I just want to be top 15 for the season. And the biggest goal for me is trying to play the PGA TOUR. That’s everyone’s dream.” For now, he’s relishing the moment at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, taking in the scale of the Rolex Series event and the opportunity to compete alongside stars like Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. “The facility is different. The building is much more than normal events. And I can see more audience and more good golfers like Rory and Shane Lowry.”
As Ding steps onto the course, fans in India and across the subcontinent will be able to follow every swing, thanks to a landmark broadcast deal. Sony Pictures Network (SPN) has secured exclusive television and digital rights to the DP World Tour for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons, with coverage extending to India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The Hero Dubai Desert Classic marks the first event of this new partnership, with live streaming available on Sony LIV.
Rajesh Kaul, chief revenue officer and business head of sports and international at Sony Pictures Network India, emphasized the significance of the agreement: “The DP World Tour represents the very best of global professional golf, and this long-term partnership reflects our strategic commitment to building the sport’s ecosystem across India and other regions of the subcontinent. By securing exclusive television and digital rights for three seasons, we are ensuring continuity, scale, deeper fan engagement, and a viewing experience that blends significance with reach.”
The 2026 DP World Tour schedule promises even more excitement, with tournaments in over 20 countries and five flagship Rolex Series events. Indian golf fans can look forward to marquee tournaments at home, including the Indian Open from March 26 to 29 and the DP World India Championship from October 15 to 18. The DP World Tour has also recently renewed broadcast partnerships in New Zealand, the US, Thailand, and the UK, cementing its global reach.
As the Hero Dubai Desert Classic gets underway, all eyes are on Wenyi Ding—a player who has already proven he belongs among the world’s best. With a year of experience under his belt and a growing sense of self-belief, Ding is poised to make his mark. Whether he’s chasing top-15 status, a PGA TOUR berth, or simply the next fairway, one thing is clear: the world is watching, and Wenyi Ding is ready for the spotlight.