PGA agrees partnership with the Clutch Pro Tour and the Tartan Pro Tour

The PGA has enhanced one of its key principles of providing playing opportunities for its Members by agreeing partnerships with The Clutch Pro Tour and the Tartan Pro Tour.

In addition to providing additional playing opportunities, the agreement will offer PGA Members a chance to compete in tournaments that may ultimately lead to the DP World Tour.

In that respect, the Clutch Pro Tour and the Tartan Pro Tour are official feeder tours to the European Challenge Tour, which, in turn, rewards the top 20 in its seasonal rankings with promotion to the DP World Tour.

The new agreement will see both parties working together into the future to best avoid tournament clashes. Should there be a clash, PGA Members will need to apply for releases in accordance with the PGA regulations. However, these applications will be granted as The PGA has agreed to recognise The Clutch Pro Tour and Tartan Pro Tour as higher-ranking for the 2023 season.

Commenting on the agreement, PGA chief executive Robert Maxfield said: “We are delighted to have agreed a partnership with The Clutch Pro Tour and the Tartan Pro Tour.

“Providing playing opportunities for our Members has remained a key objective since The PGA was formed in 1901.

“There are a number of PGA Members that have a desire to have a career playing our game and these partnerships will create a pathway for them to pursue their ambitions.”

Commenting on the announcement, Tom Hayward, Clutch Pro Tour Director said: “Player development and progression has been a key focus of Clutch Pro Tour since our formation in 2019. We are pleased to be working with The PGA in providing heightened opportunity at the development level and we look forward to helping players achieve their competitive ambitions. We are pleased to be able to offer a spot in the British Challenge and six Tier 1 Exemptions to leading PGA players with a view to increasing this level of support as the partnership progresses.”

Paul Lawrie, Tartan Pro Tour said: “The Tartan Pro Tour are pleased to be able to offer PGA Members two spots in the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge at Newmachar Golf Club in August.  In addition, the leading five PGA Members from the PGA Play-Offs will gain exemption into Tartan Pro Tour events for the 2023 season (guaranteeing them access to Tartan Pro Tour events should they choose to enter).  Additionally, The PGA in Scotland Champions from 2018-23, Scottish Order of Merit Winners 2018-22 and Northern Open Champions 2018-2023 are also recognised within Tartan Pro Tour exemption categories.”

The Clutch Pro Tour and Tartan Pro Tour opportunities will be assigned to the leading players in the PGA Play-Offs which are scheduled for the third week of April 2023 at Aphrodite Hills, Cyprus.

For any queries relating to this announcement, please contact the Member Services team on 01675 470 333 or email member.services@pga.org.uk