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 DP World Tour card.
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 events on the top tier.
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 top tier titles to his name, including the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon.
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 events at the top level, including two Rolex Series titles, while Pavan returned to top the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2013.
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.
