There were changes to membership criteria with the reversal of some of the changes introduced for the
2017 season; the number of players gaining exemption from the final Race to Dubai standings reverted to the top 110 and the Access List was scrapped, largely replaced by a re-ranking system. The Race to Dubai points system was adjusted, with all prize money being converted into
U.S. dollars before translating into points (1 point = 1 dollar) having previously been calculated after converting into
euro. The points for all tournaments were also fixed prior to the start of the season, having previously been set during each tournament week, thereby negating any fluctuation in exchange rates.
Tournament changes • New tournaments:
Oman Open. • Returning tournaments (not part of the
2017 season):
Open de España,
AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (missing from the 2017 schedule due to date change),
Belgian Knockout (formerly the Belgian Open). • No longer part of the schedule:
Alfred Dunhill Championship (not held due to course renovations; returned for the
2019 season),
Open de Portugal (dropped down to the
Challenge Tour),
Shenzhen International,
Paul Lawrie Matchplay. • Format change: the Lyoness Open (Austrian Open) became the
Shot Clock Masters, with all shots subject to a strict time limit before incurring penalty strokes. ==Schedule==