The European Challenge Tour season is poised for its annual, nail-biting climax at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final next week, where the top 45 players on the Rankings will do battle for the 20 available European Tour cards on offer through the Challenge Tour.
It has been another fascinating year for the Challenge Tour that has seen 30 tournaments staged all over the world, from Argentina to Kazakhstan, and, after a gruelling schedule, the Challenge Tour’s elite will descend upon the stunning San Domenico Golf for one of the most testing examinations of their careers.
Every one of the 45 men in the field has earned the right to contest the €250,000 prize fund, from current Number One Johan Axgren of Sweden, to 45th placed Julien Foret of France, who won his place at the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final at the very last moment with his victory at the penultimate event of the season at the Golf International Open de Toulouse.
Every single player in the field can win one of the 20 European Tour cards by taking the first prize of €42,800, while every man in the current top ten can win the Rankings outright if they can take first place in Italy and other results go their way.
There are so many possibilities and permutations involving the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, but the bottom line for every player in the field is simple: Win next week and you will be a European Tour player next season.
Axgren, with two victories and a further seven top ten finishes to his name this year, has been the player of the year so far, leading the Rankings since his second victory of the season at the Tusker Kenya Open in March.
His quest to be Number One will come under the most intense scrutiny at San Domenico Golf, however, with many of the players closes to him on the Rankings in outstanding form going into the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final.
