Challenge Tour

The Challenge Tour, currently titled as the HotelPlanner Tour for sponsorship reasons and also sometimes referred to as the European Challenge Tour, is the second-tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and similarly with the main European Tour and the European Senior Tour, some of the events are played outside Europe.

History

The tour was introduced in 1986, when the national tours of Sweden, France and Italy became open to foreign players, and was initially called the Satellite Tour. The Order of Merit was introduced in 1989, with the top five players on it winning membership of the European Tour for the following season. The following year the tour was renamed the Challenge Tour, a name already used in 1989. Up to 1993 the Challenge Tour rankings were based on each player's best several results, but since 1994 it has been a straightforward money list, with all results counting.

Players who are successful on the Challenge Tour qualify for membership of the European Tour the following year. Twenty players earn direct promotion to the European Tour. Players finishing 21–45 may also gain qualification for occasional low-prize-money European Tour events, but can improve their status through European Tour Qualifying School. Players who win three Challenge Tour events in a season are fast-tracked onto the main tour immediately and are fully exempt the following season, similar to that of the US-based Korn Ferry Tour.

World ranking points

Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded for high finishes in Challenge Tour events. Formerly, most events awarded 12 points to the winner, with European Tour dual-ranking events awarding 18 points. The Challenge Tour Grand Final gave 17 points to the winner.

In 2014, a number of events received slightly higher points totals, with three events earning a minimum of 13 points and the Challenge Tour Grand Final winner receiving 17 points, up from 16.

In January 2025, it was announced that the tour had signed a title sponsorship agreement with HotelPlanner, being renamed as the HotelPlanner Tour.

Satellite tours

One competitive level down from the Challenge Tour are five third-level developmental tours, the Alps Tour, the Pro Golf Tour, the PGA EuroPro Tour (ceased in 2022; replaced by the Clutch Pro Tour and the Tartan Pro Tour) and the Nordic Golf League, each of which is based in a different part of Europe. These circuits are known as the satellite tours. The top players not otherwise exempt (five each from the Alps, Pro Golf, and Nordic Golf League, three from the Clutch Tour, two from the Tartan Pro Tour) from the Order of Merit of each of these tours earn status on the Challenge Tour for the following season. The Challenge Tour also offers status to players competing in the European Tour Qualifying School, giving privileges to those who make the 72-hole cut at the final stage but fail to place in the top 20.

In December 2022, it was announced that the Clutch Pro Tour and the Tartan Pro Tour would become official feeder tours to the Challenge Tour; in place of the now defunct PGA EuroPro Tour. The Tartan Pro Tour would offer Challenge Tour status to the leading player on the Order of Merit, whereas the Clutch Pro Tour would offer Challenge Tour status to the top two players on the Order of Merit. In 2024, with inclusion into the OWGR, the Clutch Pro Tour increased the number of Challenge Tour cards to three, with the Tartan Pro Tour increasing the number of cards to two. In 2024, the China Tour offered a Challenge Tour card to the player second in the rankings.

One can also earn immediate access to the Challenge Tour for a three-win season on The Tartan Tour, Alps Tour, Pro Golf Tour, and Nordic Golf League.

Schedules

Originally, the Challenge Tour events were held in Western Europe. In 1991, the five Safari Circuit events in Africa were added. Only the Kenya Open (until 2018) remained a regular event on the tour for more than a few years, although the Zambia Open returned to the tour between 2001 and 2004 as the first Sunshine Tour co-sanctioned event. In 2020, the tour re-entered into South Africa, again co-sanctioning events with the Sunshine Tour. Another African tournament, the Moroccan Golf Classic, was held from 2002 to 2010. The Challenge Tour featured tournaments co-sanctioned with the Tour de las Américas in Latin America from 2003 to 2011.

In 2011, the tour added its first events in Asia, the Gujarat Kensville Challenge in India and the Kazakhstan Open. In 2023, the tour re-expanded their schedule into India, playing two events co-sanctioned alongside the Professional Golf Tour of India. This came after the European Tour had entered into a partnership with the PGTI.

Rankings winners

See also

* List of golfers with most Challenge Tour wins
*List of golfers to achieve a three-win promotion from the Challenge Tour

Notes

References

External links

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{{Men's Professional Golf Tours
Challenge Tour
Professional golf tours
European international sports competitions