London, England: Ding Wenyi is excited to test his game on the international stage after earning a DP World Tour card for next season as the inaugural winner of the Global Amateur Pathway (GAP) ranking.

The 19-year-old from China won the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan a fortnight ago, solidifying himself at the top of the standings for non-collegiate amateur players.

Launched by the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and The R&A in June, the Global Amateur Pathway Ranking Period concluded this week, and Ding has taken the decision to join the paid ranks.

He will make his professional debut this week on home soil at the European Challenge Tour’s Hangzhou Open, before intending to begin his 2025 Race to Dubai campaign in Australia in late November.

Ding said: “I’m excited to start my journey as a professional, and look forward to teeing it up on the DP World Tour next season. The Global Amateur Pathway has given me an incredible opportunity, and my thanks go to the DP World Tour, The R&A and the PGA Tour for supporting me and my fellow amateur players to reach their goals.”

Ding is in no doubt the global nature of the DP World Tour will help him develop as a golfer as he transitions from being an amateur.

“There are so many global players [competing on the DP World Tour]. You play in Asia, Europe, South Africa, all around the world,” he said.

A rising star at Arizona State University, Ding registered four top-five finishes in eight tournaments including victory at this year’s Amer Ari Invitational.

And he admits it was a tough decision to quit college in August to enter the GAP Rankings and now turn professional and forego his place in the 2025 Masters and Open Championship, earned through his win at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

“I was struggling for a week, I couldn’t eat or sleep,” said Ding, who turns 20 next month, and cites Tiger Woods as his golfing hero growing up. “But I knew it was a really good opportunity. I talked with my father, my friends, my agent and they supported me.”

In an illustrious amateur career, Ding also became the first Chinese male US Junior Amateur Champion in 2022, while he has made five previous DP World Tour appearances, including last year’s Singapore Classic when he was the 36-hole leader.

His father, Feng, who first introduced him to the sport, has been his caddie and the father-son partnership could continue on the DP World Tour next season.

Ding said: “If I play in Europe, I will probably find a caddie just travelling Europe, but maybe in Asia or in South Africa or elsewhere I think my dad will caddie for me.

“I know he helped me a lot and worked really hard for me and taught me to play golf, so he must be excited, too.”

For now, though, Ding is focused on performing well – with the support of his father as his bagman – again at the penultimate event of the Challenge Tour season, beginning tomorrow.

He has course knowledge having played at Hangzhou West Lake Golf Club in the 2022 Asian Games, and is determined to stay grounded as he embarks on his professional career.

“My goals are to just keep working hard and be better,” he said. “I’m excited for the tournament, but for me I feel normal and just want to play well.”