In 2019, James Morrison, a golfer with two European Tour victories to his name, contemplated stepping away from the sport entirely due to the intense demands of a professional golfing career.

Fast forward to today, and the scenario couldn’t be more different. The 40-year-old English golfer was seen warmly hugging his son and caddie, Finley, after sinking a decisive putt on the 18th green at the Club de Golf Alcanada in Mallorca. This triumphant moment marked his victory at the Hotel Planner Tour Grand Final, securing his comeback to the DP World Tour following a year off.

Leading up to the Grand Final, Morrison faced the real possibility that this event might mark the end of his professional career if he failed to regain his DP World Tour card for 2026. Yet, he appeared content with the idea of moving on if necessary.

“When I said this would be my final event, I meant it entirely,” he reflected.

“Now, everything has changed,” he added with a smile.

James Morrison (pictured) claimed victory at the Hotel Planner Tour Grand Final on Sunday

The 40-year-old Englishman had actually claimed that he could give up professional golf entirely back in 2019 

The weekend was nothing short of remarkable for Morrison, who surged ahead to claim victory by three strokes over his closest competitor, Stefano Mazzoli, concluding the season’s grand finale at an impressive 15-under-par.

With his son Finlay on his bag, Morrison needed a high finish in Mallorca to become one of 20 golfers to qualify for the DP World Tour, having started the week ranked 36th on the Hotel Planner Tour.

But it was an incredible finish for Morrison, who earlier this year, broke a 20-year wait for a win on the professional tours, after securing victory at the Blot Play9 in France. 

‘I’m glad it’s over with – put it that way,’ he said, adding that he couldn’t even feel his arms on the tee box at the 18th, ultimately going down for a bogey on the last.

Morrison will now return to the DP World Tour next season following a year-long hiatus, something that he had not foreseen at the beginning of the week, revealing that he doesn’t have a caddie or a bag.

‘I’ve got no clue. I haven’t got a tour bag. I haven’t got a caddie,’ he said in disbelief.

Instead, in what he thought was going to be his last-ever pro event, Morrison’s son Finley was on his bag in Mallorca, with the Surrey-based golfer joking that Finley has an early start on Monday.

‘He’s [Finley’s] got a half-past six alarm for school tomorrow morning…’ Morrison said.

Heartwarming scenes erupted on the 18th green on Sunday as Morrison and his son and caddie Finley (left and right) celebrated the epic victory 

Morrison tried to hold back the tears as he lifted the lid on what it was like to be returning to the DP World Tour, having previously admitted that this could be his last professional tournament

It was a nervy start for Morrison who on Sunday posted a bogey on the second before recovering with birdies on the fifth and seventh holes

‘It’s amazing. I love him. He did so good,’ he added.

The two-time DP World Tour winner got off to a slow start on day one in Mallorca, carding a one-under par 71. He’d follow that up with a 67 on day two, before opening up a three-shot lead heading into the final round.

It was a nervy start for Morrison who posted a bogey on the second before recovering with birdies on the fifth and seventh holes.

Gains would be made again on the 11th and 12th holes, with Morrison draining a sweeping long putt from right-to-left on the latter to post back-to-back birdies. High on momentum, Morrison moved five shots clear of the field with another birdie on the 14th hole, and it was at this point that he seemed destined to secure his card for next year.

‘I’ve played nicely all week. Didn’t play as well today but kind of dug into my memory bank from my wins on the DP World Tour.

‘The wind blowing really played into my hands a little bit because I knew the harder that it got, the more I could get away from the field a little bit. had a three-putt par at the first but stayed calm.

‘Swinging on the last I couldn’t feel my arms. Five or six on the last, I couldn’t care. A win is a win.

Behind him, Italian star Stefano Mazzoli continued to push cutting the deficit to three shots, wrapping up his weekend 12-under par.

Gains would be made again on the 11th and 12th holes, with Morrison draining a sweeping long putt from right-to-left on the latter to post back-to-back birdies

Morrison couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of the victory saying: ‘I’m glad it’s over with – put it that way’

Four other Brits would qualify for the DP World Tour this weekend, with Scottish stars David Law, Daniel Young and Euan Walker all winning cards for next season, while Joshua Berry joining Morrison as the second Englishman to secure a berth on the sister tour for next season.

Morrison’s story is an inspiring tale. The Surrey-born golfer turned pro in 2006 and went on to play 15 successive seasons on the DP World Tour before losing his card in 2024, missing 14 cuts throughout that season.

However, back in 2019, he revealed in an interview with Sky Sports that issues in his personal life and his obligations to the tour were starting to take their toll.

‘It’s my 10th year out here in a row now and this has been not about golf, it’s about everything else,’ He told Sky Sports back in 2019.

‘Tour life’s getting a chore, travelling’s getting hard.

‘I’ve got a little boy (Finley) at home, my wife’s having some health problems and had surgery two days ago, so there’s stuff at home going on that’s taken my attention away from the game.

‘I really questioned whether that was it. Scotland [July’s Scottish Open] was close to being my last-ever event but that’s just the way it goes, that’s life and you’ve got to deal with it.’

Now, things will be much different for the 40-year-old, who admitted he couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of his win. 

‘I’m glad it’s over with – put it that way,’ he said.