01새로운 프로 등용문, '글로벌 아마추어 패스웨이'를 통해 기회 잡은 그레이저맨
딘 그레이저맨(Dean Greyserman)이 DP 월드 투어 Q 스쿨 파이널 스테이지에서 인상적인 경기력을 선보이며 순위표 상단으로 도약했다. 이번 대회에서 보여준 그의 집중력 있는 플레이는 차기 시즌 투어 카드 확보를 향한 강력한 신호탄으로 해석되며, 현장 관계자들과 팬들로부터 큰 주목을 받고 있다.
그레이저맨은 이번 활약의 결정적인 배경으로 ‘글로벌 아마추어 패스웨이(Global Amateur Pathway)’를 언급했다. 이 프로그램은 재능 있는 아마추어 선수들이 프로 무대에 안정적으로 안착할 수 있도록 돕는 체계적인 경로로, 그는 이 시스템을 통해 쌓은 경험이 이번 Q 스쿨과 같은 압박감이 큰 무대에서 실력을 발휘하는 데 핵심적인 역할을 했다고 밝혔다.
그는 인터뷰를 통해 글로벌 아마추어 패스웨이가 제공하는 기회가 아마추어 골퍼들에게 얼마나 중요한지를 거듭 강조했다. 특히 높은 수준의 경쟁 환경을 미리 경험함으로써 프로 전향 이후 겪을 수 있는 시행착오를 줄일 수 있었으며, 이를 통해 얻은 자신감이 이번 대회에서 좋은 성적으로 이어졌다고 덧붙였다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
Dean Greyserman may be safe in the knowledge that he has a guaranteed home for his upcoming first year as a professional but he is intent on improving on that at DP World Tour Final Stage Qualifying School.
If he finishes in the top 15 and ties after the six-round tournament at INFINITUM, he will earn a DP World Tour card for his first foray in the paid ranks.
If not, then playing rights on PGA Tour Americas in 2027 await the 23-year-old following a third-place finish on this year's Global Amateur Pathway.
Launched by the DP World Tour, The R&A and the PGA Tour in 2024, it creates a route for non-collegiate amateur players onto the DP World Tour and partner Tours around the world. It complements PGA Tour University – which awards membership on PGA Tour-sanctioned Tours to the top Division-I college golfers at the end of the NCAA Championship – to ensure opportunities are available for elite players across the amateur ranks.
Greyserman, the younger brother of PGA Tour player Max, has retained his amateur status since graduating from Stanford University earlier in the year and is grateful for the safety net it provides him in a pressure-filled week.
"I mean, obviously, just knowing that I have a place to play next year at the minimum is certainly relieving," he told the DP World Tour.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity that the DP World Tour and The R&A have provided with the Global Amateur Pathway.
"At the same time, it's [playing DP World Tour Qualifying School] still a lot of pressure regardless.
"But, certainly, it feels nice to at least have somewhere to play next year and it definitely takes a little bit of stress off the week for sure."
Greyserman made a big move up the leaderboard with a third-round 62 over the Lakes course on Sunday.
It is the second Sunday he has shot the score, after birdieing seven of his first nine holes at his Second Stage venue Fontanals to make it to Final Stage.
After opening his week with a 64 over the Lakes on Friday, a 74 over the tougher Hills saw him lose ground but he made that up, and more, with a 62 that featured an eagle and eight birdies.
At 12 under, he sits seven back of Dane Marcus Helligkilde, who carded a 64 on Sunday over the Hills.
“Today was amazing, very pleased and happy with the round," he said.
"But it's still a long week, so I'm just going to get back to my recovery and rest and try to put up a good one tomorrow [on the Hills].
"I felt like I needed to make a good move today playing on the Lakes, which is playing a little bit easier."
Greyserman has experienced caddie Jamie Herbert, who has worked for several DP World Tour professionals including Eddie Pepperell and Laurie Canter, on his bag this week and credited the Englishman for his on-course nous.
"Jamie has been great, brings a ton of experience and he's a great guy.
"I just sent out a feeler through my brother's caddies network.
"My brother [Max] plays in America and his caddie, Adam [Parmer], has got some connections over time and he kind of put out some feelers and Jamie came about.
"It's been good so far and I'm thankful to have him on the bag."
Herbert was equally complementary as he spoke of his initial impressions of the Stanford graduate.
"Dean epitomises young golfers coming out of America. He hits the ball a long, long way. Really controlled distance. He's a good putter [albeit] he's struggled a little with the speed of the greens this week.
"As for me, I am just along for the ride. I'm just trying to keep him relaxed I suppose. But, no, he's a very, very good golfer."
Along with younger brother, Reed, a third-year student at Princeton, Greyserman is the middle son and has his father, Alex, supporting him in Spain after he cancelled a flight home to America to extend his stay in Europe.
"The hard part of being a parent is trying to be in three places at the same time," says Alex Greyserman, whose eldest son is playing the World Wide Technology Championship on the PGA Tour.
With the prospect of PGA Tour Qualifying School still ahead of him, Dean attributes being immersed in a golfing family as instrumental in providing perspective of the highs and lows a career in golf will bring.
"I'm super thankful to see Max's journey and the ups and downs and everything that golf brings," added Dean.
"I'm still experiencing all of that day by day in my career, but just having a front row seat at what he's gone through and the ebbs and flows of the game.
"I think it certainly provides me an advantage and something that I'm very lucky to have."