Heartbreak for golfers as PGA EuroPro Tour to end after 20 years

PGA EuroPro Tour has confirmed the sad news that 2022 will be its last ever season having hosted tournaments for the stars of tomorrow for 20 years. 

The circuit first began in 2002 as a partnership between Sandy Jones and the PGA's Mastercard Tour and Barry Hearn and Matchroom Sport's EuroPro Golf Tour. 

Since then, some of the game's brightest talents have come through the EuroPro Tour ranks such as major champions and now LIV Golf players Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, six-time DP World Tour winner Tyrrell Hatton and rising stars Richard Mansell, Marcus Armitage and Aaron Rai. 

In total, the PGA EuroPro Tour, which has offered five Challenge Tour cards for the following season, has promoted over 100 golfers to the next level.

According to PGA EuroPro Tour CEO Daniel Godding, "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."

This season's final event will be the Matchroom Sport Tour Championship at Lough Erne Resort between 19th and 21st October, where the top five at the end of the event will be promoted to the Challenge Tour for 2023.  

Godding published a lengthy statement to reveal the heartbreaking news for Tour professionals earlier today, which you can read in full below: 

The 2022 season will be the final year for The PGA EuroPro Tour.

After more than 20 years of offering opportunity and shaping the next generation of professional golfer, our journey sadly ends.

From the bottom of our hearts, thanks to everyone! https://t.co/HpUiDeJw8L

— PGA EuroPro Tour (@PGAEuroProTour) September 28, 2022

Dear All,

After what has been a phenomenal 20 years of developing many of Europe’s best professional golfers, the PGA EuroPro Tour has decided to make 2022 the final season.  

In a market evolving quickly the PGA EuroPro Tour feels the impact of changing global investment, media and sponsorship. 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.  

The Tour first opened its doors in 2002 as a partnership between Sandy Jones and the PGA’s Mastercard Tour and Barry Hearn and Matchroom Sport’s EuroPro Golf Tour. The success was immediately realised with members Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and John E Morgan with more recently the likes of Aaron Rai, Tyrrell Hatton, Marcus Armitage and Richard Mansell using the developmental design and progression pathway to springboard their careers on to the European and PGA circuits. 

With many Major, European and PGA Tour wins and Ryder Cup appearances by previous members, the tour has proudly created a legacy and has driven forward the brand and image of European golf.  

The purpose of the PGA EuroPro was to develop the very best talent in the sport and prepare them for the next stage in their careers. As a direct affiliate to the European Tour, the PGA EuroPro offered five Challenge Tour cards for the following season and has proudly promoted over 100 golfers to the next level.  

The PGA EuroPro Tour has provided a world class service to its members offering a stepping stone and media experience like no other tour. But 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. 

We wish everyone the best of success in the years to come and we’re excited to see where our past and current members can take their games. We’d like to use this opportunity to thank all our staff and PGA Members, all our partners from the 20 years who have made it possible and every golf club and volunteer who has been so hospitable when the PGA EuroPro Tour has come to town. 

Matchroom Sport and PGA EuroPro Tour President Barry Hearn added – 

“I have been honoured to have created the PGA EuroPro Tour alongside Sandy Jones of the PGA and to watch the development of so many aspiring and inspiring professional golfers. 

Sadly, in these changing times for professional golf support for Europes’ biggest development tour has not been sufficient to justify its continuation but I must stress my eternal gratitude to Dan Godding and his team at the PGA EuroPro Tour, the PGA, our broadcasters Sky Sports and the golf clubs and volunteers in both the UK and Europe without whom we would never have created so many opportunities for next generation of professional golfers.” 

Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of the PGA added: – 

“I would like to thank and congratulate Matchroom for successfully operating The PGA EuroPro Tour for so many years. A number of today’s global golf stars owe a huge debt of gratitude to The PGA EuroPro Tour for providing them with the opportunity to realise their dreams. It is sad that this will be the last season of The PGA EuroPro Tour but we can all look back with great pride on what has been achieved over the last 20 years.” 

Our Final event will be the Matchroom Sport Tour Championship at Lough Erne Resort between 19th and 21st October, where the top 5 at the end of the event will be promoted to the Challenge Tour for 2023.  

Kindest  

Daniel Godding 

CEO PGA EuroPro Tour