Portuguese golfer Daniel da Costa Rodrigues has secured his spot on the prestigious DP World Tour, delivering a record-tying performance that marks a significant milestone for his country’s presence in elite European golf.
The 23-year-old finished tied for fifth, ultimately securing sixth place after a tie-break, at the grueling six-round DP World Tour Qualifying School Final in Tarragona, Spain. His total of 406 strokes, 22 under par, equaled the lowest score ever by a Portuguese player in the event.
This achievement makes Rodrigues only the fourth Portuguese player to successfully navigate the Q-School Final and will see him become the sixth Portuguese golfer to join the European circuit’s top tier in 2026.
“It’s a feeling of duty accomplished and a dream come true,” Rodrigues said in a video statement to the Portuguese publication Record shortly after his qualification. “It’s difficult to put into words what I’m feeling right now.”
He admitted to being “very nervous” on the first tee of the final round but found solace in his long-held aspirations. “The only thing I thought about and tried to remember whenever nerves came to mind was what I always dreamed of, which was getting a card on one of the main professional tours.”
Rodrigues expressed gratitude to his team and supporters, adding, “I hope to be able to carry my name and the name of Portugal very far.” He concluded, “If it’s a dream, I hope no one wakes me up because it’s very good and I’m very happy.”
Ricardo Melo Gouveia, currently the top-ranked Portuguese golfer, praised Rodrigues’ achievement. “What he did is exceptional, the consistency he has shown,” Gouveia told Record. “For Portuguese golf, it will be very important to have another player in the European elite.”
The highly competitive tournament also saw fellow Portuguese golfer Pedro Figueiredo narrowly miss qualification. Figueiredo, the only player to pass the Q-School Final three consecutive times, finished tied for 25th, two strokes shy of the top-20 needed.
Despite failing to qualify, Figueiredo’s score of 16 under par was better than his qualifying scores in 2019 and 2023, underscoring the increasing difficulty of the event. He received approximately $1,875 USD, while Rodrigues earned about $2,000 USD.
Rodrigues’ success follows a distinguished amateur career in Portugal, the U.S. collegiate circuit, and with European national teams. He turned professional in mid-last year.
As a professional, he held the No. 1 ranking on Portugal’s international Algarve circuit, winning a tournament and securing seven top-10 finishes early in 2025. He also won a professional circuit event in Portugal this year.
Rodrigues is also attempting to qualify for the PGA Tour in the United States, having finished second in a recent stage in Texas. He is now set to compete in the final stage, potentially becoming the first Portuguese player to join the PGA Tour in 2026.
Rodrigues began his golf journey in Porto and developed his skills at Club de Golf de Miramar in Vila Nova de Gaia before attending Texas A&M University.