After 23 events, the Road to Mallorca will reach its final destination next week when the 25th edition of the Challenge Tour Grand Final tees off. To get you up to speed on the season-ending tournament, we answer your most frequently asked questions.
Q. Where is Mallorca?
Located in the Mediterranean Sea, the island of Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are autonomous islands belonging to Spain and include Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera. One of the world’s most sought after holiday destinations, the airport in Mallorca’s capital of Palma serves over 29 million passengers each year.
Q. Where is the Challenge Tour Grand Final being played?
The tournament will be contested at Club de Golf Alcanada, which will host a Challenge Tour event for the first time. Designed by legendary course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr and opened in 2003, the 7,108 yard par 71 layout offers stunning views of the Alcúdia Bay and the accompanying lighthouse. Club de Golf Alcanada is considered one of the finest courses in Mallorca and boasts world class practice facilities and first-rate amenities.
Q. Who qualifies for the Challenge Tour Grand Final?
The top 45 players on the Road to Mallorca following the conclusion of the Foshan Open are eligible to play in the season-ending event. The Road to Mallorca Rankings began in April at the first event, the Turkish Airlines Challenge. This year every player in the top 45 will be in the field.
Q. How many players will earn a European Tour card?
The top 15 players on the Road to Mallorca Rankings after the Grand Final will earn a European Tour card for the 2020 season in category 14. Any player who has wins three times in a season is placed in the higher category 13 for next year. With one tournament to go, Frenchman Antoine Rozner and Calum Hill of Scotland, both two-time winners this season, still have the chance to earn the three-win promotion into category 13.
Q. What is the pecking order amongst the graduates on the European Tour?
Three-time winners in Category 13 are highest on the entry list, and thus have the best chance of playing their most-preferred schedule. Category 14 will be ordered based on the final Road to Mallorca Rankings. This is important, as it means even if a player is guaranteed to finish inside the top 15 on the Road to Mallorca, their performance at the Grand Final could make the difference when fields are set for the Rolex Series events in 2020.
Q. What happens if you finish outside the top 15?
The players who finish 16th to 30th on the Road to Mallorca will earn European Tour playing privileges for next year in Category 18, which does not guarantee any starts, but usually offers a handful of opportunities to compete against the world’s best. These players will also retain their Challenge Tour playing privileges for 2020.
Q. Does every player in the Challenge Tour Grand Final have the chance to finish in the top 15?
Absolutely. The winner of the €420,000 Challenge Tour Grand Final will receive 72,000 points towards their Road to Mallorca Rankings total. The last man in, Ugo Coussaud, currently sits on 39,157 points. The 15th and final graduation spot currently belongs to Oliver Farr on 77,028. Any player to win the trophy will also win a European Tour card. It is all to play for in Mallorca.
