EuroPro Tour To Close Its Doors This Season
The PGA EuroPro Tour has been a fundamental part of professional golf in the UK for the past 20 years but it will now come to an abrupt end next month.
The Tour got up and running in 2002, as a partnership between Sandy Jones and the PGA’s Mastercard Tour and Barry Hearn and Matchroom Sport’s EuroPro Golf Tour, and a number of huge names have come through the ranks – the top five finishers on their money list this year will earn themselves a spot on the Challenge Tour.
The press release cited 'the impact of changing global investment, media and sponsorship' as part of the reason behind its sudden demise.
"The economic landscape of increasing costs and the changing habits of the worldwide audience means it has become clear that unfortunately there is no longer the support nor demand in the market to operate the PGA EuroPro Tour," it read.
"In recent times the sports environment has evolved drastically and it has proven difficult for the PGA EuroPro Tour to operate. We are sad to bring an era to its end, but we are delighted that we have helped so many realise their dreams."
In its time the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, John E Morgan , Aaron Rai, Tyrrell Hatton and Marcus Armitage have all plied their trade on the tour as it formed a bridge to the upper echelons of the Challenge and European Tours.
Morgan worked on the TV side of the tour for a number of years and he tweeted how sad that he was to see it go: Very sad day for me and many others as we see a bloody brilliant tour cease trading – 20 years ago they gave me the best chance to hone my skills. The tour put you under the pressure you needed for the future with cameras and media in your face. Players that came through the @PGAEuroProTour were outstanding talents and some have gone onto major champions and winners.Great people made this happen. Super gutted to see it go after working and playing on @PGAEuroProTour - love you and will miss you. Over and out."
The news seemed to come out of the blue to even the players who will head to the final event of the year in what will now be an historic week at the Lough Erne Resort on October 19-21.
The Tour got up and running in 2002, as a partnership between Sandy Jones and the PGA’s Mastercard Tour and Barry Hearn and Matchroom Sport’s EuroPro Golf Tour, and a number of huge names have come through the ranks – the top five finishers on their money list this year will earn themselves a spot on the Challenge Tour.
The press release cited 'the impact of changing global investment, media and sponsorship' as part of the reason behind its sudden demise.
"The economic landscape of increasing costs and the changing habits of the worldwide audience means it has become clear that unfortunately there is no longer the support nor demand in the market to operate the PGA EuroPro Tour," it read.
"In recent times the sports environment has evolved drastically and it has proven difficult for the PGA EuroPro Tour to operate. We are sad to bring an era to its end, but we are delighted that we have helped so many realise their dreams."
In its time the likes of Tommy Fleetwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, John E Morgan , Aaron Rai, Tyrrell Hatton and Marcus Armitage have all plied their trade on the tour as it formed a bridge to the upper echelons of the Challenge and European Tours.
Morgan worked on the TV side of the tour for a number of years and he tweeted how sad that he was to see it go: Very sad day for me and many others as we see a bloody brilliant tour cease trading – 20 years ago they gave me the best chance to hone my skills. The tour put you under the pressure you needed for the future with cameras and media in your face. Players that came through the @PGAEuroProTour were outstanding talents and some have gone onto major champions and winners.Great people made this happen. Super gutted to see it go after working and playing on @PGAEuroProTour - love you and will miss you. Over and out."
The news seemed to come out of the blue to even the players who will head to the final event of the year in what will now be an historic week at the Lough Erne Resort on October 19-21.