The PGA EuroPro Tour, Europe’s leading developmental tour for professional golfers, is to shut down at the end of this season in response to what the tour’s organiser, Matchroom Sport, described as a ‘changing economic landscape of increasing costs and changing habits of the worldwide audience’.

The tour’s final will be the Matchroom Sport Tour Championship, which is being held at Lough Erne Resort in Northern Ireland between October 19-21.

Speaking in a statement published by the PGA EuroPro Tour, CEO Daniel Godding said:  “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.”

He added: “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.”

The EuroPro Tour was set up  in 2002 following the merger of EuroPro Tour and the PGA MasterCard Tour, ^{with the Professional Golfers’ Association and Barry Hearn’s Matchroom Sport joined forces to create one tour for all aspiring young tour players.  The top five finishers on the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit win a tour card for the following season on Europe’s second-tier tour, the Challenge Tour, and a place at the Stage Two of the DP World Tour Qualifying School. Since 2015, Official World Golf Ranking points have been awarded, with four points given to the winner of a tournament.}

The tour, which is based mainly in the UK, featured 16 events on its 2022 season schedule, with prize funds of around £50,000 on offer at each event, with the winner’s prize is set at £12,500. The end-of-season Tour Championship has a £102,000 prize fund, with £25,000 going to the winner. Entry fees for each tournament were £295, with field sizes set at around 135.

Through the years, the likes of Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Aaron Rai, Tyrrell Hatton, Marcus Armitage and Richard Mansell all took early steps in their journey on the developmental circuit.

Matchroom Sport and PGA EuroPro Tour President Barry Hearn commented: “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.”

Hearn added: “I must offer 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.”

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Motocaddy, the world’s leading electric trolley brand, has signed a major deal to become the ‘Official Electric Trolley’ and ‘Official Laser Rangefinder’ of the 2022 PGA EuroPro Tour – Europe’s foremost development tour – thereby extending the longest-running partnership in the Tour’s history to 17 consecutive seasons.

In an exciting expansion of the partnership, Motocaddy has also signed a number of leading EuroPro Tour players as Brand Ambassadors for the first time, with the season getting underway this week (25-27 May) at the Cubefunder Shootout hosted at the Harleyford Golf Club in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Sam Broadhurst, Ashley Mansell, Josh Hilliard, Harry Goddard – all UK – and Hyun Ho Rho from South Korea will each use the latest Motocaddy M5 GPS DHC electric trolley and PRO 3000 laser rangefinder throughout the season, as well as receiving a Motocaddy win bonus for any tournament victories.

“We’re delighted to continue our long-running partnership with the PGA EuroPro Tour and support the next-generation of future stars on their professional journey,” said Motocaddy Marketing Director, Oliver Churcher. “We are working with some incredibly talented Brand Ambassadors this season who we expect to go far in the sport, so to play a part in their progress is very rewarding. We hope that they enjoy using the Motocaddy products and make the most of the performance benefits they can bring,” he added.

“It’s really exciting to be representing Motocaddy as a Brand Ambassador on Tour this season and I can’t wait to get started. Motocaddy has a great reputation for producing top-quality products that make the game easier to play,” said Broadhurst, one of Motocaddy’s Tour team. “I’m looking forward to putting my Motocaddy kit into play and hope that it will give me an edge in competition this year,” he added.

Motocaddy is also supporting every EuroPro Tour event on the 2022 schedule with the winner picking up a brand new S1 electric trolley and PRO 3000 laser rangefinder as a prize.

With direct access to the Challenge Tour through the final Order of Merit, the PGA EuroPro Tour offers players over £840,000 of prize money, with the top five golfers at the end of the season awarded entry to the 2023 Challenge Tour.

A two-hour highlight show on every event will be shown on Sky Sports, DAZN and on 98 networks around the world reaching 500 million homes. In addition, every event is available to watch on-demand in high definition on the Tour’s own YouTube channel and on Matchroom.Live.

Providing vital experience of life on tour, players are competing in 15 events at some of the UK and Ireland’s premier golfing venues. The season culminates with the Tour’s top 60 players contending the Tour Championship taking place in October (19th – 21st) at the Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

“The players love the partnership we have with Motocaddy because they love the products,” said Daniel Godding, CEO for the PGA EuroPro Tour. “For us, it’s a long-term association with a premium global brand that provides the perfect fit for our members, so I’m very pleased it’s continuing into a record 17th season.
“I think this year is the perfect year to launch The Brand Ambassador scheme with Motocaddy, as the players will represent the brand brilliantly and hopefully it spurs them on to some great performances,” he added.

For more information about Motocaddy products including bags, batteries and accessories, please visit www.motocaddy.com or follow @MotocaddyGolf on social.

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