Paul Lawrie's Tartan Pro Tour becomes Challenge Tour feeder circuit

Just over two years after being set up by Paul Lawrie to provide playing opportunities for Scottish-based professionals when some circuits in Europe were in a Covid lockdown, the Farmfoods Tartan Pro Tour has become an ‘official feeder tour’ to the European Challenge Tour.
The Farmfoods Tartan Pro Tour will feature 13 events in 2023 while the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge will be staged at Newmachar for the second year in a row. Picture: Tartan Pro TourThe Farmfoods Tartan Pro Tour will feature 13 events in 2023 while the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge will be staged at Newmachar for the second year in a row. Picture: Tartan Pro Tour
The Farmfoods Tartan Pro Tour will feature 13 events in 2023 while the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge will be staged at Newmachar for the second year in a row. Picture: Tartan Pro Tour

The player who tops the 2023 Tartan Pro Tour Order of Merit after an exciting schedule comprising 13 events all played over 54 holes will automatically secure a Challenge Tour card for the 2024 campaign.

Tartan Pro Tour players have enjoyed opportunities on the Challenge Tour over the past two seasons, with 2022 Order of Merit winner Jack McDonald set to make seven starts on the strength of that success on the DP World Tour’s feeder circuit next season.

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However, it is a significant step for the Scottish-based tour to now join the Alps Tour, Pro Golf Tour and Nordic Golf League as a new pathway on to the main tour following the demise of the PGA EuroPro Tour after a 20-year run.

“This is a huge step forward for the Tartan Pro Tour,” declared Lawrie, who runs the circuit through his Five Star Sports Agency, which also promotes the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge, set to be staged at Newmachar for the second year running in 2023.

“Since we began these events during the pandemic in 2020, our goal has been to provide playing and development opportunities to better prepare up-and-coming players, professionals and amateurs, to compete at higher levels of the sport.

“To now be a part of the player pathway onto the European Challenge Tour, I feel we’ve really achieved that and it will be an added incentive for those players aspiring to play at the next level of the game.”

The Tartan Pro Tour started with six events in 2020 before being increased to 11 in 2021 then 13 this year. The same number being staged in 2023 but all increased from 36 holes to 54 holes (with a cut after two rounds) is another big step in the circuit’s development.

Carrying total prize money in the region of £350,000, those tournaments will take place at some prominent venues across Scotland, starting at Barassie Links in May and running through until the end of September, when the curtain closer is held on the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

“I want to say a massive thank you once again to Farmfoods for their outstanding support as well as The R&A and all our Official Tour Partners for their backing,” added Lawrie, who has a hands-on role with the circuit.

“The venues which support the development of golfers through these events are also incredible. We return to many of the fantastic venues which have been part of our journey from the beginning and are delighted to visit some new venues next season – the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews, Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Spa, Downfield Golf Club, Portlethen Golf Club and Gleneagles Centenary Course join the list - and I’m delighted they have come on board this year.

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“Each host venue has been so accommodating and helpful with making the dates work; the quality of these courses is very high, so it will be great for the players to play competitive golf and test themselves at each of these varied course types.”

In addition to the Challenge Tour card, invites into the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge Tour supported by The R&A will also be up for grabs, with those spots at Newmachar on 10-13 August going to the leading three players from the 2023 Tartan Pro Tour Order of Merit who are not otherwise exempt following the conclusion of the Macdonald Cardrona event on 17-19 July.

Full 2023 schedule

May 1-3 Barassie LinksMay 10-12 Montrose LinksMay 22-24 Fairmont St AndrewsMay 29-31 PortlethenJune 14-16 PollokJune 19-21 Dundonald LinksJuly 12-14 DownfieldJuly 17-19 Macdonald CardronaAugust 21-23 Leven Links

August 27-29 BlairgowrieSeptember 6-8 LadybankSeptember 18-20 St Andrews LinksSeptember 25-27 Gleneagles

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