The MCB Tour Championship gets under way this week with the inaugural MCB Tour Championship – Madagascar, the first stage of the three-event Indian Ocean Swing. With only three tournaments left of the 2019 Staysure Tour season, here is what’s to play for at the MCB Tour Championship.
John Jacobs Trophy
The award for the Staysure Tour Number One at the conclusion of the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius, the final event of the season. Following 19 events across four continents in 13 different countries, playing 61 rounds of golf and over 1,000 holes, the winner of the 2019 Staysure Tour Order of Merit will be crowned.
Ahead of the final three events of the campaign, Phillip Price tops the Order of Merit on 2,311 points, and has held top spot since his fourth place finish at The Sinclair Invitational at the beginning of September. Last year’s John Jacobs Trophy winner Paul Broadhurst lies 291 points behind the Welshman, but with Broadhurst not teeing it up in the final series, Price’s nearest rival is José Coceres. The Argentine has won twice in 2019 at the Swiss Seniors Open and the Murhof Legends – Austrian Senior Open and holds third place on 1995.6 points, only 315.4 behind Price.
With three lucrative events still to play, the battle for the John Jacobs Trophy could go down to the final hole at the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius, with a handful of players currently inside the top ten determined to push Price to the last putt.
Top 20 secure for 2020
With only three events left of the 2019 Staysure Tour season, players are looking to finish as high as possible on the Order of Merit to secure their playing privileges for 2020. At the conclusion of the MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius, the top 20 players on the Order of Merit will secure their Staysure Tour card for next season.
With the three-event MCB Tour Championship offering large prize funds to play for, players from outside the top 20 will be aiming for a final push to seal their fate, while players inside the mark will be looking to finish strong in 2019 and cement their position in the top 20.
Major qualification
It is not just 2020 Staysure Tour cards that are on the line for the top 20, as places in next season’s Senior Major Championships are also up for grabs.
The top 20 players qualify for the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, which has been won five out of the last eight times by Staysure Tour members: Paul Broadhurst (2018), Bernhard Langer (2017), Colin Montgomerie (2016 and 2015) and Roger Chapman (2012).
The leading 30 players at the end of the year will take to the Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club from July 23-26 for the 2020 Senior Open Presented by Rolex.
The top ten players on the 2019 Order of Merit will tee it up at the U.S. Senior Open Championship, which was won three times in five years by Staysure Tour members: Montgomerie (2014), Chapman (2012) and Langer (2010).
