Ugo Coussaud capitalised on a fast start to the Challenge Tour season to secure his place on the DP World Tour for 2024.
The Frenchman began the year by finishing second at the season-opening Bains Whisky Cape Town Open before going on to record a maiden Challenge Tour win and four other top 15 finishes in his next seven outings.
Coussaud’s breakthrough win at The Challenge presented by KGA in India consolidated his place at the top of the Road to Mallorca Rankings.
The 31-year-old would spend a total of 17 weeks as the Number One during the calendar year before eventually finishing fourth at the conclusion of the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A to earn one of the 20 DP World Tour cards on offer.
“I had a very good start of the season with a lot of good low rounds,” he said. “I only just made the cut in the first tournament and then had a very good weekend, playing seven under par on Saturday and six under on Sunday to finish second.
“Normally I start the year quite slowly and then have to work hard to get points, but getting a good start was important.
“The victory in India was a great moment for me in my career. It was my first win on the Challenge Tour in five or six years of playing, and my friends were there to celebrate with me.”
Coussaud finished second at the UAE Challenge at the beginning of May to all-but secure his promotion to the DP World Tour after only eight events. That result saw him reset his goals for the remainder of the year.
“After the result in the UAE, I took a few weeks off to celebrate,” he added. “Since then I’ve been able to focus on next year on the main tour.
“It’s so different when you know you’re going to be in the top 20. You can relax and enjoy every round and every tournament.
“Of course, after that start to the year I tried to change my goals and finish as the Number One which didn’t quite happen but the Challenge Tour has been great for me. It also goes to show that the more effort and time you put in, even if it takes many years, you can succeed at the end.”
Coussaud has made a promising start to the DP World Tour season, making the cut in two of three events and finishing tied 15th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.
