The European Challenge Tour’s strength was shown in abundance at the 2021 Masters Tournament with 11 of the 14 former players who teed it up making the cut at Augusta National Golf Club.
Hideki Matsuyama made history by becoming Japan’s first male Major Champion, earning the Green Jacket courtesy of a two-stroke victory, but it was also a positive week for several former Challenge Tour players.
England’s Justin Rose, the 2013 U.S. Open Champion, recorded his best Major Championship finish since 2019 by finishing seventh at Augusta National.
The 2016 Olympic Champion posted a stunning seven under par round of 65 to take the lead on day one and he remained ahead at the halfway stage. Following Matsuyama’s 65 on day three, Rose went into the final round four strokes back, but he was unable to get it going on day four as he posted a two over par round of 74 for a total of five under and seventh place.
A man who will take great memories away from the 2021 Masters is Robert MacIntyre. The 24-year-old Scotsman finished in a tie for 12th place and with that earns an invite to return to Augusta National next year.
MacIntyre, a 2018 graduate, posted rounds of 74-70-70-72 to finish on two under par alongside five other players, including fellow leftie Brian Harman. The man from Oban showed his nerve on the final green to roll home a birdie putt to secure his place in next year’s field.
A week to remember @robert1lefty 🏴
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 11, 2021
He punches his ticket back to next year's Masters.#TheMasters pic.twitter.com/c1RgFw9PLz
Playing at Augusta National for the sixth time, Tyrrell Hatton finally broke 70 in the final round as he posted a smart four under par round of 68. The four-time Rolex Series winner opened with rounds of 71-74-74 but turned it on in the final round with four consecutive birdies from the 13th to the 16th to card a superb 68.
When you finally break 70 around Augusta at your 16th attempt 😂 #themasters pic.twitter.com/Tm3NLiHI6h
— Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) April 11, 2021
European Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter and 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen shared 26th place with six others on one over par, while 2020 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai winner Matt Fitzpatrick and four-time European Tour winner Matt Wallace were a shot further back on two over par in a share of 34th place.
The 2000 Challenge Tour Number One Henrik Stenson finished in a tie for 38th spot at Augusta National, while reigning Dimension Data Pro-Am Champion Christiaan Bezuidenhout and 2010 graduate Bernd Wiesberger were tied 40th on four over par.
The final former Challenge Tour player to make the cut was England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who topped the Rankings in 2011. Fleetwood finished in a tie for 46th spot but will fondly remember this year’s Masters after recording a hole-in-one at the iconic 16th hole on day one.
Of the 14 former Challenge Tour players to tee it up at Augusta National last week, only Brooks Koepka, Victor Perez and Dylan Frittelli missed the cut.
