The
European Challenge Tour’s Rankings will form the newly-named Road to
Oman, culminating in the crucial NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in the
Omani capital of Muscat, where a brand new bonus pool of €60,000 will be
on offer for those who finish the season in the top three.
The
new concept further signifies the importance of the new Grand Final,
hosted and sponsored by NBO (National Bank of Oman), and reflects the
growing strength and depth of one of the world’s top developmental
tours.
The
2015 Road to Oman will take in 25 tournaments in 19 different
countries, mixing historic tournaments such as the Barclays Kenya Open
and the Rolex Trophy with newer events in developing golfing nations
such as Slovakia, Turkey and China.
At
the all-important Grand Final, the 45 highest-ranked players will
battle it out for the top 15 spots in the final Road to Oman Rankings,
earning them graduation to The European Tour – thereby following in the
footsteps of such golfing luminaries as Thomas Bjørn, Martin Kaymer and
Henrik Stenson.
Furthermore,
a new bonus pool will be available for those players who finish in the
top three of the Road to Oman, meaning the chase for European Tour
graduation will be given an exciting new dimension in 2015.
The
winner of the Rankings will not only be awarded the honour of being
crowned Challenge Tour Number One - receiving an engraved Rolex watch -
but he will also receive the lion’s share of the bonus pool, an added
€30,000.
The
development marks an exciting new era in the Challenge Tour’s 27 year
history and provides further proof of its increasing strength and
success in producing the most talented young players in Europe and
beyond.
While
seven of last year’s Ryder Cup-winning team – Bjørn, Jamie Donaldson,
Stephen Gallacher, Kaymer, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Stenson – all
passed through the Challenge Tour ranks in years past, more recent
alumni include American Brooks Koepka, Branden Grace of South Africa and
promising Frenchmen Alexander Levy and Gary Stal.
Alain
de Soultrait, Director of the Challenge Tour, said: “This is an
exciting new development for the European Challenge Tour. Our schedule
has for many years taken us to every corner of the earth and this year’s
Road to Oman will see us visit places such as Kenya, Kazakhstan and
China before ending in a nation which is displaying great vision and
commitment in growing the game of golf.
“There is no better place to finish our journey than Oman’s beautiful capital Muscat and the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.
“This
year’s Road to Oman is set to be the most exciting season in the
history of the tour, especially at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final,
where the battle for the extra bonus pool on offer will add to the
enthralling race for European Tour graduation.
“We
extend our sincere thanks to NBO for putting their weight behind this
new initiative and putting their faith in the Challenge Tour, while we
must also thank Rolex and the R and A for their continued support.”
Ahmed
Al Musalmi, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Oman,
commented: “We continue to support our Nation’s growth and prosperity
through our corporate social responsibility initiatives, and this is
another momentous occasion for the National Bank of Oman. The Road to
Oman will further focus the attention of the golfing world on the
Sultanate of Oman and on the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final in the various
countries the Challenge Tour visits throughout the season.
“As
each step along the Road to Oman takes the players closer to The Wave
Almouj Golf, Muscat, and their European Tour destiny at the NBO Golf
Classic Grand Final, Oman’s global profile will be raised further on the
world golf map. It adds another dimension towards taking all the
benefits Oman can offer to worldwide horizons.”
Oman
has for the past two years hosted the National Bank of Oman Golf
Classic, which quickly became one of the most popular tournaments on the
schedule. The spectacular venue and Greg Norman-designed links-style
layout was complemented by a professionalism and hospitality which made
it a stand-out event for players, staff and fans alike.
It was only fitting, therefore, that the tournament be upgraded to become the most important on the Challenge Tour schedule.
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