The Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A is all that remains of the 2023 Road to Mallorca season, with 20 players hoping to earn graduation to the DP World Tour at its conclusion.
Four days at Club de Golf Alcanada from November 2-5 will decide the final Rankings and who earns promotion to golf’s Global Tour.
For the players teeing it up on the European Challenge Tour this year, the journey to Alcúdia began back in February with four weeks in South Africa. Here’s the Road to Mallorca by numbers since the first tee shot took place in Cape Town.
29 – Events on the Road to Mallorca
The Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final will mark the 30th and final event of the 2023 Road to Mallorca schedule. With 29 tournament weeks in the books, the Tour has visited 19 countries in total. Starting off in South Africa, the Tour then visited India and the UAE before returning to Europe. It’s been a whirlwind year, and with just four rounds to go, there’s all still to play for.
26 – Winners in 2023
From 29 events there have been 26 different winners. Max Rottluff, Matteo Manassero and Ricardo Gouveia both won twice, with Gouveia’s double success putting him in second place on the all-time Challenge Tour winners list with seven. In total, 22 players joined the European Challenge Tour winner’s circle for the first time.
8,604,000 – Prize fund in Euros
Including the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final, the prize money in 2023 is the most in the Tour’s history. The season-ending event will see 45 players fighting for a spot on Europe’s top tier and a share of the €500,000 prize pot.
59 – Season-low round
Lauri Ruuska made history on home soil at the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge by signing for just the fourth sub-60 round in Challenge Tour history. His 12 under par round of 59 saw him card 10 birdies and one eagle, with the Finn centimetres from becoming only the second player to card a 58 with his birdie attempt at the last narrowly missing.
69.54 – Leading stroke average
Jesper Svensson had to wait until the tenth week of the season at the B-NL Challenge Trophy for his first start, but he made the most of the opportunity. The Swede would go on to win in the Netherlands and has had five other top tens since. He’s been a model of consistency, shown by his stroke average being the best on the Challenge Tour this year against the Tour average of 71.16. Currently fourth in the Rankings, Svensson will be playing on the DP World Tour next season.
10 – Most top tens
Manuel Elvira has had a season to remember and will tee it up in his home country having racked up more top ten finishes than anyone else in 2023, and as the Road to Mallorca Number One. The Spaniard has come close to a maiden Challenge Tour win on several occasions, finishing second three times as well as registering two fourths, a sixth, a seventh, an eighth, a ninth and a tenth from just 24 starts.
