The 2023 Masters Tournament takes place this week and ten former European Challenge Tour stars will tee it up at Augusta National, including two men who are making their debuts.
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick arrives in Georgia as a Major Champion having triumphed at the 2022 U.S Open. The 28-year-old finished in a tie for 14th at last year’s Masters and he will be targeting the Green Jacket this year in an attempt to double his Major tally.
Justin Rose, another Major Champion, has finished runner up twice at Augusta National – in 2015 and 2017 - and he heads into the 2023 Masters in impressive form having returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in four years at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.
Tommy Fleetwood, the 2011 Challenge Tour Number One, and countryman Tyrell Hatton learned their trade on the Challenge Tour and will look to follow in the footsteps of Sir Nick Faldo and Danny Willett in becoming the third Englishman to put on the Green Jacket.
Adrian Meronk will make history this week by becoming the first Pole to tee it up at Augusta National. The 2019 Challenge Tour graduate is no stranger to the history books after he became the first Pole to win on the DP World Tour at the Horizon Irish Open last year and followed it up with a second victory early in the 2023 season at the ISPS Handa Australian Open in December.
Ryan Fox will also celebrate a landmark moment in his career with a first trip down Magnolia Lane. The Kiwi earned his spot at Augusta National for the season’s opening Major Championship by finishing in the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of a hugely impressive 2022 on the DP World Tour, during which he won twice and finished second on the Race to Dubai.
Alex Noren made his Masters debut in 2019 where he finished in a tie for 62nd. The 2018 Ryder Cup player will be hoping to improve on that finish when he makes his second appearance at Augusta National this week.
Trevor Immelman is the only former Challenge Tour player to win the Masters after he secured victory in 2008, will one of the ten in the field follow in his footsteps this week?
