With today marking the 30thanniversary of the European Challenge Tour, we bring you a collection of the best statistics from the past three decades on Europe’s top developmental tour.
1989– the year of the first ever Challenge Tour tournament, which was held in Italy onMarch 15thand was called theOpen dei Tessali.
2– the number of Challenge Tour titles won byNeal Briggswho triumphed in the tour’s first event, the1989 Open dei Tessali, and was also crowned the first Challenge Tour Number One that same year.
41 – the number of events played in the very first Challenge Tour season. The tour visited justeight countries that year: Finland, Italy, France, Scotland, Sweden, England, Switzerland and West Germany.
1– the number of former Challenge Tour players to have gone on to captain Europe in The Ryder Cup.Thomas Bjørnwill become the first to do so later this year.
27– the number of former Challenge Tour players to have competed in The Ryder Cup.26have represented Europe while just one has represented the United States –Brooks Koepkain2016.
1–Martin Kaymeris the only Challenge Tour graduate who has reachedNumber One in theOfficial World Golf Ranking.
8– the number of Major Championships won by former Challenge Tour players.
7– the number of former Challenge Tour players who have won a Major:Michael Campbell (2005 U.S. Open), Trevor Immelman (2008 Masters Tournament), Louis Oosthuizen (2010 Open Championship), Martin Kaymer (2010 U.S. Open and 2014 US PGA Championship), Justin Rose (2013 U.S. Open), Henrik Stenson (2016 Open Championship) andBrooks Koepka (2017 U.S. Open)
432– the number of European Tour wins by former Challenge Tour players.
15– the most European Tour wins by a former Challenge Tour player, a feat achieved by1995 Challenge Tour Number One Thomas Bjørn.
8– the number of Challenge Tour wins by EnglishmanIain Pyman – the most by any player in the history of the tour.Pyman’sfirst Challenge Tour victory came in1999at theBMW Russian Openwhile his last came in2008at theTusker Kenya Open.
5– the most wins by a Challenge Tour player in one season. In1998England’sWarren Bennetttriumphed in theChallenge de France, BTC Slovenian Open, Open des Volcans, Moscow Country Club Russian Openand theChallenge Tour Grand Final.
284 – the most appearances by any one player in Challenge Tour history, achieved by England’sPaul Dwyerbetween1999and2015.
17– the age of theyoungestever winner on the Challenge Tour. Germany’sDominic Fooswasjust 17 years and 347 days old when he won theGant Openin2015.
46– the age of theoldest ever winner on the Challenge Tour. Spain’sAntonio Garridowas46 years and 49 days old when he triumphed at theTorras Hostench Terramar tournamentin1990.
13– the number of players who have won on their Challenge Tour debut. Such players include Masters ChampionTrevor Immelman (2000 Tusker Kenya Open), Martin Kaymer (2006 Vodafone Challenge)andEdoardo Molinari (2007 Club Colombia Masters).
29– the record under par score in a Challenge Tour event. BothThomas Detry (2016 Bridgestone Challenge) andIvó Giner (2003 Terme Euganee International Open) reached29 under par after four rounds.
12– the largest winning margin in Challenge Tour history, a feat also achieved byThomas Detry when he finished12 shotsclear of second-placed Thriston Lawrence at the2016 Bridgestone Challenge.
57%– the win ratio ofKristoffer Brobergwhen he played on the Challenge Tour. The Swede broke various records in2012when he tore through the Challenge Tour, winning fourof hisseven starts, while also finishing no lower thantied ninth. His scoring average67.59is also a Challenge Tour record.
59– only two players have ever shot a59in the history of the European, Staysure and Challenge Tours. They are both Challenge Tour players -Adrien Mörkat the2006 Tikida Hotels Agadir Moroccan ClassicandNicolo Ravanoat the2016 Fred Olsen Challenge de España.
13– the age of the youngest player to make a cut in the history of the Challenge Tour. Chinese amateurLi Linqiangwas13 years and 345 days oldwhen he played his way into the weekend of last year’s Hainan Open.
