The Challenge de España may be at a different venue this year but Adrien Saddier is nevertheless regarding this week as a defence of the title he claimed last season.
The Seve Ballesteros-designed Izki Golf plays host to the 2017 edition of the long-running event, reprising its duties from 2002 and 2003, as the tournament forms part of the Challenge Tour schedule for the 18th successive year.
Though Saddier’s victory came at Tecina Golf in La Gomera, the Frenchman is the reigning Challenge de España champion and is keen to enjoy his status this week.
“It’s nice to be defending champion,” said the 25 year old. “It’s pretty cool to be here for a title defence, it’s the first time for me, so I’m looking forward to a big week and hopefully making a move on the Road to Oman.”
Last year’s victory was Saddier’s first and so far only win on the Challenge Tour – he has finished runner-up three times already in 2017 as he enjoys another stellar season.
Reflecting on lifting his maiden trophy, it is obvious Saddier still regards that win as a significant watershed moment in his career.
“It was like a new chapter in my life,” he said. “In 2015 I changed my whole swing, I had a new coach, so to win with this new swing, this new system, was very important for me and for my confidence – and it’s always pretty cool to win!”
Just five tournaments remain on the Road to Oman and Saddier, in eighth place in the Rankings, has put himself in a strong position to secure one of the 15 European Tour cards on offer at the season’s end.
There are still more than 1.5 million points on offer, however, and Saddier – who missed a par putt on the final green of the season to secure graduation last year – knows better than anyone not to take anything for granted on the Challenge Tour.
“It’s been a good season so far,” he said. “I am eighth in the Rankings at the moment and I am not too far from the top five, so one good week here and I will be much better ahead of the end of the year.
“I still need to do more to make sure I am in the top 15 – I was the guy who just missed out last year so I need to wait to be sure before I say I am definitely in.
“It’s too early because there are still a lot of points left, with China and Oman, so I will just be careful and try to do my job, keep doing the work, and if I can keep making the cut and earning some points I should hopefully get there.”
