ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR
STAYSURE TOUR’S 2020 SEASON CANCELLED
The Staysure Tour, Europe’s professional golf Tour for players aged 50 and older,
today announced the cancellation of its 2020 season.
�he decision was taken following
consultation with the Tour’s
membership and the Tour’s
Medical Advisers based on the additional
risk associated with the age demographic
of the players and the complexities of
staging events across multiple territories.
It was today rati�ed by the Staysure Tour
Tournament Committee following earlier
approval by the European Tour Board of
Directors and Executive Leadership Team.
All 2020 playing exemption categories will
be extended to the 2021 season.
Mark Aspland, Head of the Staysure Tour,
said: “This decision was not taken lightly
but we feel it is the most responsible course
of action following consultation with all of
our stakeholders, and taking into account
feedback from our players around the
complexities of international travel at the
current time.
“While professional golf is slowly returning
with the necessary safety protocols, we have
to recognise the additional risk associated
with the age demographic of the Staysure
Tour membership, alongside the challenges
of implementing the requisite health strategy
across the multiple territories we play in.
“I would like to take this opportunity to
personally thank Ryan Howsam and Staysure
who have been incredibly supportive
throughout this process, allowing us to arrive
at this dif�cult decision. We look forward to
working together, and with our other partners,
across the 2021 season.”
David J Russell, Chairman of the Staysure
Tour Tournament Committee and a member of
the European Tour’s Board of Directors, said:
“As professional golfers, we all want to be out
on the golf course competing again. However,
these are truly unique circumstances caused
by a global pandemic.
ROLEX AND THE R&A SUPPORT THE
CHALLENGE TOUR
Rolex and The R&A have taken measures to support the European Challenge Tour and
the continued development of the next generation of leading golfers in this time of
unprecedented disruption due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Following the decision to cancel the Rolex Trophy that had been scheduled for August 19–22,
Rolex has offered to repurpose the tournament prize fund to bene�t the wider Challenge Tour
schedule and its members in 2020.
The R&A’s Fund will provide an additional £300,000 in support to the Challenge Tour on top
of its existing £120,000 annual grant.
Jamie Hodges, Head of the Challenge Tour, said: “Both Rolex and The R&A are dedicated to
supporting golf and their additional help this year is a fantastic gesture, which demonstrates
their commitment to the development of our sport and the value they place on the role of the
Challenge Tour in producing the stars of the future. The Challenge Tour has been a proven
training ground for future European Tour winners, Major Champions and Ryder Cup stars
since its inception in 1987.
“While there is no formal graduation to the European Tour this year, this funding will greatly
help us in creating as many playing opportunities as possible in the circumstances this year,
providing a platform for tomorrow’s champions to continue to gain vital experience and
compete on the international stage.”
The Challenge Tour draws on relationships with golf federations and PGAs to create an
international schedule for golf professionals from across the globe, giving players from
developing gol�ng nations the opportunity to test their skills among some of the most talented
up-and-coming stars.
U.S. OPEN
EXEMPTIONS
AVAILABLE DURING
UK SWING
Participants in the European
Tour’s new UK Swing will have
even more to play for following
confirmation that ten spots in the
2020 U.S. Open Championship
will be available for the highest
placed finishers in the mini order
of merit after the first five events.
�he UK Swing begins at the Betfred
British Masters hosted by Lee
Westwood at Close House, near
Newcastle, from Wednesday July 22 to
Saturday July 25, and will launch the
European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative,
which underpins all events for the
remainder of the 2020 season. As part of
the initiative, a mini order of merit will run
for all six events in the UK Swing, with the
top ten sharing an additional £250,000 to
donate to charities of their choice.
The USGA has con�rmed that the top 10
aggregate points earners in the mini order
of merit that are otherwise not exempt at
the conclusion of the �fth event – the Wales
Open at Celtic Manor - will be exempt for
the rescheduled U.S. Open at Winged Foot
Golf Club on September 17-20.
The traditional U.S. Open sectional
qualifying events, including the European
quali�er at Walton Heath in June, were
cancelled this season following the
upheaval in the global golf calendar due
to the global Covid-19 pandemic, with the
�eld now comprised entirely of exempt
players.
After the European Tour resumes with two
events in Austria – the Austrian Open on
July 9-12 and the Euram Bank Open on
July 15-18 – the action switches to the UK
and the Betfred British Masters.
GolfPlus JULY 2020 17