The Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A creates a unique atmosphere where the top 20 players on the Rankings will secure a life-changing European Tour card. Let’s look back through the historic moments this prestigious event has produced…
The Challenge Tour Grand Final was established in 1995, with Spain’s Francis Valera securing a one-stroke victory over Frenchman Thierry Planchin in the inaugural edition at Quinta do Peru, Portugal. Valera and Planchin joined a field studded with future European Tour stars, including 2018 Ryder Cup winning captain Thomas Bjørn. The Dane finished in eighth place in Portugal to secure his spot as Challenge Tour Number One, as well as European Tour playing rights for the 1996 season. He did not look back, going on to win 15 European Tour events.
Henrik Stenson secured a memorable victory at the 2000 Grand Final in Cuba. The Swede arrived at Varadero Golf Club with a point to prove after narrowly missing out on his European Tour card the season before, despite finishing in a tie for second at the same venue. Stenson secured victory in 2000 to top the Rankings and has since become one of the world’s best with 11 European Tour titles to his name, including the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon.
Martin Kaymer finished 13th in the 2006 Grand Final at San Domenico Golf to secure his European Tour card for the 2007 season after two victories in just eight starts that season. It proved to be the perfect preparation for the German who went on to win two Major Championships, 11 European Tour events and held the illustrious position of World Number One for eight weeks in 2011.
Tommy Fleetwood topped the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2011 after finishing in second place at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, one-stroke behind Italy’s Andrea Pavan to become the youngest winner of the Rankings in the Tour’s history at just 20-years-old. The Englishman has gone on to make two Ryder Cup appearances and win five European Tour events, including two Rolex Series titles, while Pavan returned to top the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2013 and has since secured two European Tour titles.
Espen Kofstad triumphed at the 2012 Grand Final at San Domenico in Italy, subsequently topping the Rankings and the Norwegian will again tee it up at this year’s edition at T Golf & Country Club alongside 2015 winner Ricardo Gouveia, as both hope to become the first player to win two Challenge Tour Grand Finals. Brooks Koepka, a four-time Major Champion, participated in the 2012 Grand Final but was unable to secure his European Tour card. However, the following year the American earned automatic graduation to the European Tour after winning three times during the season.
Ondrej Lieser made history in 2020 by becoming the first player from the Czech Republic to secure European Tour playing rights after securing victory at the Grand Final and subsequently topping the Rankings.
