Christmas in Dubai is nothing like Christmas back home in Manitoba.

“Yeah, about a 60-degree (Celsius) difference,” said Aaron Cockerill with a laugh.

But this Christmas will be an awfully special one for the Canadian, as he re-earned DP World Tour status for 2026 via an incredibly impressive effort this week in Spain at the Tour’s Qualifying Tournament – a gruelling six-round marathon where only 20 cards are given out from a field of 156.

Cockerill, a native of Stony Mountain, Man., shot a final-round 65 to finish second at the Q-School event and will likely get into even more DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) events via his status than he did in 2025. He is the lone Canadian on that circuit – and has been every year since he first qualified six years ago – and after a struggle in

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