At a meeting in December, the European Tour Tournament Committee approved major changes to the system by which new talent will qualify for their opportunity to compete on the European Tour.
Beginning in 1999, players without any form of exemption will have to play in both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Tour Qualifying School to secure a place in the Finals. Each stage will be played over 72 holes; Stage 1 will have five venues and approximately 30 players (+ ties) from each venue will progress to Stage 2.
Stage 2 will be conducted over three courses with players allocated to one venue only.
Andy McFee, the Director of the Qualifying School said: "We anticipate fields of between 100-120 at each Stage 2 venue and about 30 places in the Finals per course can be won. The old system has served us well for the last 12 years but the time is now right to put in place a structure that will take the Qualifying School process forward as more and more people see the European Tour as a great opportunity.
"Each stage will be highly competitive, but a top 30 finish over 72 holes is a very fair target. The exemptions into the Finals show only minor adjustments but with a completely new stage to consider we are expanding the exemptions so that there are incentives to perform well on a weekly basis in a variety of professional environments."
Stage 1
will be played on September 14-17 at The Wynyard Club, Chart Hills, Five Lakes Hotel and Country Club, Woodbury Park and Carden Park (Cheshire course).
Stage 2
will be played on 26-29 October at Pals, Emporda and Peralada.
The Finals
will be played on 17-22 November at The San Roque Club and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
Entry forms will be available from the European Tour in late May.
FIRST STAGE QUALIFYING
(72 holes scheduled)
14-17 September 1999 :
The Wynyard Club
Five Lakes Hotel & CC
Woodbury Park G&CC
Chart Hills GC
Carden Park GC (Cheshire Course)
For all applicants except the
following who are exempt through to Stage 2.
1. All 1999 PGAET members in Categories
1-13.
2. 1999 Challenge Tour Members in positions
1-100 in the Challenge Tour Order of
Merit on Monday 13 September.
3. 1999 Challenge Tour Members in positions
46-95 in the Final Challenge Tour Order
of Merit.
4. Winner(s) of the Qualifying School in
1995, 1996 & 1997.
5. Winners of PGA European Tour Order of
Merit events prior to 1979.
6. The leading 4th-10th available players
on 30 August to a limit of 30th place
in the following Orders of Merit :
- The Asian PGA Tour as at 30 August.
- The Southern Africa Tour (Final 98/99
Vodacom Tour Order of Merit on 13
September).
- The Japan Golf Tour Organization as
at 30 August.
7. The leading 6th-10th available players
on 30 August to a limit of 30th place
in the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of
Merit. (Final 98/99 list)
8. The leading 8 available players to a
limit of 30th place in the following
3rd Tier Orders of Merit:
- The Mastercard Tour on Monday 13
September.
SECOND STAGE QUALIFYING
(72 holes scheduled)
26-29 October 1999 :
Pals GC
Emporda GC
Peralada GC
For all applicants except the
following who are exempt through to the Finals.
A. Players earning Category 12 membership
of the PGA European Tour for the 2000
season. (Normally 116-145 in the Final
Volvo Order Of Merit).
B. Players in positions 16-45 in the Final
Challenge Tour Order of Merit.
C. Winners of PGA European Tour Order of
Merit Events from 1979-1998 inclusive.
D. The Winner(s) of the last played
Qualifying School.
E. The three leading available players on
30 August to a limit of 30th place in
the following Orders of Merit :
- The Asian PGA Tour as at 30 August.
- The Southern Africa Tour (Final 98/99
Vodacom Tour Order of Merit).
- The Japan Golf Tour Organization as
at 30 August.
F. The five leading available players on
30 August to a limit of 30th place in
the Final 98/99 Order of Merit of the
PGA Tour of Australasia.
