The European Challenge Tour has been a pathway for generations of golfing stars since it’s debut season in 1989. The class of ’22 are the latest graduates to impress having made the step up.
Four players from that graduate class have added their names to a long list of Challenge Tour alumni to have won on the DP World Tour.
Matthew Baldwin was the first to do so in 2023. Having split his time between the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour since turning professional in 2008, the Englishman secured a maiden win on golf’s Global Tour at the SDC Championship 2023, doing so in emphatic fashion.
It was only 12 months ago that Baldwin was battling to secure his card on the DP World Tour as he teed it up in the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A. Going into the week 22nd in the Road to Mallorca Rankings, he would hold his nerve to finish in a share of fourth place to move up three spots and secure promotion. His life-changing seven-stroke victory on the DP World Tour came just five months later.
The youngest player in the field at last year’s Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final, Tom McKibbin, has made a name for himself too. The now 20-year-old grew up playing at Holywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland - the same as countryman Rory McIlroy – and has lived up to all of his promise in his debut season on the DP World Tour.
McKibbin secured promotion in his first full season on the Challenge Tour and now looks set to be in the field at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship after a maiden win at the Porsche European Open in June.
Daniel Hillier also joined the winner’s circle in June with a breakthrough win at the prestigious Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry.
The New Zealander won twice on the Challenge Tour in his two full seasons, gaining promotion at the second time of asking as the Road to Mallorca Number Seven. He’s since enjoyed an outstanding debut year on the DP World Tour, recording a maiden win alongside three other top tens to sit in 26th in the Race to Dubai Rankings.
Todd Clements gained one of the life-changing DP World Tour cards by finishing 16th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings last year, in what was his second season on the Challenge Tour.
The Englishman has taken full advantage, making 16 of 28 cuts in his debut season on golf’s Global Tour and a maiden victory at the D+D Real Czech Masters in August.
Three strokes off the lead going into the final day, Clements fired a bogey-free nine under par round of 63 to reach 22 under par for the week to secure a memorable one stroke victory and become the fourth winner from the class of ’22.
With four rounds to go of the 2023 Road to Mallorca season, 45 players have an opportunity to join Baldwin, McKibbin, Hillier and Clements on a growing list of players to succeed at the next level.
In total 212 former Challenge Tour players have registered 566 wins on the DP World Tour. Who will be next?
