The European Challenge Tour returns for the end of season Spanish Swing and here are five things you need to know ahead of the Andalucía Challenge de España.
Spanish Swing
This week marks the beginning of the Challenge Tour’s end of season Spanish Swing, three events which signal the end of the 2020 Road to Mallorca International Schedule. It begins with back-to-back events at the Iberostar Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri, this week’s Andalucía Challenge de España followed by next week’s Andalucía Challenge de Cadiz.
Upon the conclusion of the two weeks in Cadiz, the top 45 available players from the top 65 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings will travel to the island of Mallorca for the Challenge Tour Grand Final.
Seve special
The Novo Sancti Petri Golf Course was the first Spanish layout to be designed by the great Severiano Ballesteros and is considered by many to be the five-time Major Champion’s greatest design. The layout presents a wide variety of undulating fairways and steeped greens protected by bunkers and water hazards. The views over the ocean and the seemingly endless beach of La Barrosa, and the almost omnipresent sea breeze, make the game more difficult and more attractive along a course that is interesting at all levels.
Aiming for the Grand Final
The Andalucía Challenge de España is the first of two opportunities for players to book their places in the season-ending Challenge Tour Grand Final. Only 45 players will get the opportunity to tee it up on the island of Mallorca, with the top 45 available from the top 65 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings earning a spot in the field at T-Golf & Country Club. The current rankings leader is Marcel Schneider, of Germany, who is closely followed by England’s Richard Mansell and Spaniard Pep Angles.
Amazing amateur
Eduard Rousaud has enjoyed a glittering amateur career which includes appearances in The Junior Ryder Cup and the Jacques Leglise Trophy and the Spaniard will make his Challenge Tour bow this week.
The 20-year-old holed the winning putt as Spain won the 2018 European Boys Team Championship and is currently ranked fourth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Although he has been unable to make the cut in his two European Tour starts so far, this week presents the Spaniard with an opportunity to test his game against some of Europe’s best up-and-coming golfers.
Thank you, Iberostar
In order for Challenge Tour events to take place in line with stringent Covid-19 protocols, the Tour is required to operate a strict bubble whereby everybody involved with the tournament must stay in exclusive accommodation and visit only the hotel and the golf club.
For the next two weeks, all tournament staff and players will be staying exclusively at the Iberostar Royal Andalus in Cadiz, with the hotel giving the Challenge Tour sole use of the venue to ensure our strict Covid-19 policy is adhered to.
