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Golfer who won alongside Justin Rose at the 2016 Ryder Cup seals card for next season

Originally posted on HITC | By Lee Connor | Last updated Nov 23, 2025 5:00 PM ET

Like any other sport, golf can be a place for great comebacks to take place and we might be seeing another one in the making in the form of Chris Wood.

Wood was a member of the 2016 Ryder Cup squad at Hazeltine as Team Europe were hammered by the USA 17 points to 11.

Since then, Wood’s career has taken something of a tumble and in 2019 his form started to dip a lot.

Fast forward to 2023, and Wood then decided to take a break from the game completely, citing burnout and anxiety issues.

However, after coming back to action on the Challenge Tour in 2024, Wood has now continued his return to the game and over the MENA Tour, has now sealed a place for 2026.

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How Chris Wood sealed a MENA Tour card for 2026

The MENA Tour is one of the lesser known golf tours out there but the Middle East and North Africa Tour does provide something of a springboard for those looking to get back into the mix.

MENA has been absent since 2023 in terms of hosting their own events but in 2025, they returned with their own sanctioned tournaments.

Now, Chris Wood has took his chance and in the Q-school events for the tour, has won out to seal his card on MENA for 2026.

Wood won out in Portugal with three impressive rounds of 66, 72 and 72 to seal the deal.

The Englishman can now look forward to playing some regular golf for the time being. It comes after he missed his chance at the DP World Tour Q-school just weeks ago, falling short by just one shot.

What Chris Wood said about his return to form

For a player like Chris Wood, who has hit the heights some can only dream of in golf, playing and winning will be a massive relief, regardless of the tour.

Playing on the MENA Tour will offer him the chance of earning world ranking points and with their events only played over 54 holes, his schedule is less intense too.

Like many, you’d imagine Wood will try his hand at qualifying for events like The Open and more if he can and after winning in Portugal, he was suitably delighted.

“I’ve had enormous challenges mentally over the last few years, so that is the important thing for me, and I’ve got to try and keep it the important thing,” Wood told Golf Monthly.

“The first couple of days, I felt like that area of things was outstanding. I’m coming quite a long way mentally, and that’s a massive deal for me.”

With three European Tour wins to his name – including the BMW PGA in 2016 – Wood knows just what is needed to be successful.

In 2026, he’ll very much be hoping his upward trajectory continues.