This week’s Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge is the penultimate event of the European Challenge Tour season and, as a result, there are a number of different storylines alongside the usual important matter of who will win the tournament – here are some points of interest at Al Hamra Golf Club:
The Top 15
Ultimately, the Challenge Tour season is all about finishing in the top 15 of the Road to Oman Rankings and consequently earning European Tour status for next season.
Although just two events remain, there are a huge number of points on offer in the final fortnight of the season, meaning there is potential for a lot of late drama and movement.
With Julian Suri and Matt Wallace both having been removed from the Rankings following their European Tour victories earlier this season, around 200,000 points that they had already earned were also removed from the overall pool – but, technically, two additional spots were made available.
The big question, therefore, is how many points will be enough. Richard McEvoy is currently in the 15th and final European Tour spot with 75,000 points, but only 20,000 points cover the next 15 players in the Rankings.
Last year, 90,000 points were required to graduate, and it looks like that mark will be matched or even broken – that said, even Pedro Oriol, in 11th place with 88,201 points, will feel like he still has some work to do.
The top seven all have more than 100,000 points up and are certain to graduate but behind them there are will be a lot of pressure and a lot of drama as the season draws to an end.
The Top 45
Perhaps the more important storyline in Ras Al Khaimah this week is the top 45 of the Rankings, who will compete in the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.
This is the last opportunity for players to book their place in Muscat for the final shootout and most players in the field will feel they have a chance, no matter how far behind they are.
The current state of affairs could barely be tighter, with just 32 points separating Ricardo Santos and Francesco Laporta in 45th and 46th place respectively – this week, one shot, one lip-out putt, really could make all the difference.
Just being involved in the Grand Final gives you a chance of gatecrashing the top 15 at the 11th hour – last year, Jens Dantorp needed to win the tournament in Oman to graduate but a final hole bogey cost him a play-off and he just fell short.
The Swede had started the week in 40th position, so anything is possible if you make it to Muscat, meaning that this week’s race for the top 45 will be a significant one.
The top 45 automatically get through to the Final Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School, offering them another chance to earn a card for 2018 and allowing them to bypass Second Stage, another incentive.
The Top 70
This week is also the final opportunity for players to secure their places in the top 70 of the Road to Oman Rankings, all of whom will automatically retain full Challenge Tour status for next year.
Michael Hoey is currently the man on the bubble in 70th place, just 500 points ahead of 71st ranked Mark Flindt Haastrup, and change is inevitable as the week progresses in Ras Al Khaimah.
A full Challenge Tour card allows a player to plan his 2018 schedule with slightly more freedom, and there will be a number of players for whom this week is far more about retaining or obtaining that status than any of the headline drama happening at the top of the Rankings.
Number One
The race for the top spot of the Road to Oman Rankings is also coming to a head and its significance is heightened in Ras Al Khaimah due to last year’s events.
12 months ago, Jordan Smith won the inaugural staging of this tournament to all-but secure the Number One position for the 2016 season.
Buoyed by that confidence, he immediately looked at home on the European Tour, not blinking when head-to-head with Rory McIlroy in South Africa in January and ultimately securing a maiden Race to Dubai title at the Porsche European Open in July.
His rise from Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge champion to one of the brightest young stars on the European Tour means that both winning this tournament and topping the Rankings carry significant prestige.
Tapio Pulkkanen currently leads the way after an outstanding season, the highlight of which was victory in the Kazakhstan Open, and though his advantage is 45,000 points, there are a number of others snapping at his heels and knowing that a victory in either of the final two events will help their cause.
Aaron Rai remains his nearest challenger but has not played on the Challenge Tour since August after his three early-season wins secured him immediate European Tour promotion – he will return for the Grand Final.
The likes of Julien Guerrier, Oliver Farr and Erik van Rooyen enter the final stretch in great form and could also apply pressure as they all look to succeed Smith as the Challenge Tour Number One – and then hopefully repeat the success he has enjoyed since graduating.
