Tour Championship returns to Desert Springs

The HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour will return to the stunning Desert Springs Resort in Spain for its season-ending Tour Championship from October 19-21.

The resort, Europe’s only international award-winning luxury family resort and championship desert golf course in the Almanzora region of Almeria in south-east Spain, played host to event for the first time in 2015.

The top 60 golfers from a competitive season will play in the event following the conclusion of the final event of the regular season at Moor Allerton Golf Club where they will compete for an increased prize plus one of five cards for the Challenge Tour.

Inspired by the famous desert courses of Arizona & California, the Indiana Course is Europe’s only award-winning desert course and its dramatic views have helped take golf in south-eastern Spain to a new level of excellence.

The course is framed within a panorama of landmark mountain ranges. The contrast between the beautifully prepared and manicured course and the arid yet vividly coloured desert captures the very essence of the Indiana Course.

The event will be filmed for a two-hour highlights package to air on Sky Sports in the UK in November, and on networks worldwide.

The purse for Tour Championship will begin the season at £60,000, but with any surplus from each regular-season event prize fund added, this figure it is set to rise considerably by October.

Based on 50 players making the cut, the minimum prize fund for every tournament is £46,735. This will increase in line with the number of ties who also make the 36-hole cut, and any surplus from £50,000 will be added to the prize fund for Tour Championship.

Simon Coaker, director of golf at Desert Springs Resort, said: "Desert Springs Resort is both delighted and honoured to have been invited to be host to the Tour Championship for the second year in succession.

“Since 2002 The PGA EuroPro Tour has played a vital part in the early careers of some of the biggest names in golf who have gone on to great success, paving the way for Ryder Cup players, Major winners and European Tour winners, most latterly Andrew Johnston, winner of The Spanish Open at Valderrama Golf Club last weekend.

“For Desert Springs Resort and the Indiana course to be part of that journey the best players in Europe travel, is a factor of both benefit and prestige to all at the Resort.

“We very much look forward to welcoming the class of 2016 to Desert Springs Resort and to providing them with a wonderful experience."

Daniel Godding, director of operations at the PGA EuroPro Tour said: “I am delighted that the tour will be returning to Desert Springs Resort this October.

“Our Tour Championship there last season was a resounding success and I am thrilled to be able to continue our partnership with the Resort this year. The Indiana Course is a true gem and the team at Desert Springs Resort ensured we enjoyed one of the most successful Tour Championships the EuroPro has seen.”

Offering direct access to the Challenge Tour through the final Order of Merit, HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour players will compete for over £800,000 of prize money in 2016, with the top five golfers at the end of the season awarded a category on the 2017 Challenge Tour.

Providing vital experience of life on tour, players will compete in 14 main events at some of the UK and Ireland’s premier golfing venues, including The Oxfordshire, East Sussex National and The Carrick on Loch Lomond.

A two-hour highlights package from each event is broadcast on Sky Sports, and on 98 networks around the world reaching over 400 million homes. In addition, every event is available to watch on demand in high definition on our YouTube channel.