2021 Challenge Tour

{{Infobox golf season

| year = 2021

| tour = Challenge Tour

| regular_season = {{Start date|2021|4|22|df=y}} – {{end date|2021|11|7|df=y}}

| no_of_events = 26{{efn|A further three tournaments were scheduled but were either cancelled or otherwise removed from the schedule.}}

| most_wins = {{flagicon|DNK}} Marcus Helligkilde (3)

| honor1 = Rankings

| honoree1 = {{flagicon|DNK}} Marcus Helligkilde

| honor2 =

| honoree2 =

| honor3 =

| honoree3 =

| honor4 =

| honoree4 =

| prevseason = 2020

| nextseason = 2022

}}

The 2021 Challenge Tour was the 33rd season of the Challenge Tour, the official development tour to the European Tour.

Changes for 2021

Similarly to 2020, the season was due to begin in February with three tournaments in South Africa co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour, but in mid-January the South African swing was postponed to April/May because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns.{{cite web |title=South African Swing postponed |url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/news/articles/detail/south-african-swing-postponed/ |publisher=European Tour |date=13 January 2021 |access-date=19 January 2021}} The official schedule announcement was made on 27 January 2021.{{cite web |title=Challenge Tour unveils 2021 International Schedule |url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/news/articles/detail/challenge-tour-unveils-2021-international-schedule/ |publisher=European Tour |date=27 January 2021 |access-date=27 January 2021}} In April two back-to-back events in Sweden in May were added.{{cite web |title=Two Swedish events added to Road to Mallorca International Schedule |url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/news/articles/detail/two-swedish-events-added-to-road-to-mallorca-international-schedule/ |publisher=European Tour |date=7 April 2021 |access-date=10 April 2021}}

=In-season changes=

In August, it was announced that the Hainan Open and the Foshan Open; both played in China, were cancelled.{{cite web |title=Challenge Tour statement on the Hainan Open and Foshan Open |url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/news/articles/detail/challenge-tour-statement-on-the-hainan-open-and-foshan-open/ |publisher=European Tour |date=11 August 2021 |access-date=29 August 2023}} Later in the month, replacement tournaments were confirmed in Spain, both hosted at Empordà Golf on the Costa Brava.{{cite web |title=Empordà Golf to host second Spanish Swing of 2021 |url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/news/articles/detail/emporda-golf-to-host-second-spanish-swing-of-2021/ |publisher=European Tour |access-date=25 August 2021 |date=25 August 2021}}

Schedule

The following table lists official events during the 2021 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/schedule/2021/ |title=2021 Tournament schedule |publisher=European Tour |access-date=29 August 2023}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Date!!Tournament!!Host country!!Purse (€)!!Winner{{efn\|name=totals\|The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of Challenge Tour events they had won up to and including that tournament. This information is only shown for Challenge Tour members. It is rare for someone to accumulate many wins on the Challenge Tour as success at this level usually leads to promotion to the European Tour.}}!!OWGR points!!Other tours{{efn\|AFR − Sunshine Tour; CHN − China Tour; NGL − Nordic Golf League.}}!!Notes
{{dts\|25 Apr 2021\|format=dm}}	Limpopo Championship	South Africa	align=right\|R3,000,000	{{flagicon\|ZAF}} Brandon Stone (1)	align=center\|13	AFR
{{dts\|2 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open	South Africa	align="right" \|R3,000,000	{{flagicon\|ZAF}} J. C. Ritchie (2)	align=center\|13	AFR
{{dts\|9 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Dimension Data Pro-Am	South Africa	align="right" \|R6,000,000	{{flagicon\|ZAF}} Wilco Nienaber (1)	align=center\|13	AFR	Pro-Am
{{dts\|16 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Range Servant Challenge	Sweden	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Craig Howie (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament
{{dts\|22 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Dormy Open	Sweden	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Félix Mory (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament
{{dts\|30 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Irish Challenge	Ireland	align="right" \|220,000	{{flagicon\|NLD}} Daan Huizing (3)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|6 Jun 2021\|format=dm}}	D+D Real Czech Challenge	Czech Republic	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Santiago Tarrío (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|13 Jun 2021\|format=dm}}	Challenge de Cádiz	Spain	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|BEL}} Kristof Ulenaers (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|18 Jun 2021\|format=dm}}	Challenge de España	Spain	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Santiago Tarrío (2)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|27 Jun 2021\|format=dm}}	Open de Bretagne	France	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Julien Brun (2)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|4 Jul 2021\|format=dm}}	Kaskáda Golf Challenge	Czech Republic	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|DEU}} Marcel Schneider (2)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|11 Jul 2021\|format=dm}}	Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge	France	align="right" \|210,000	{{flagicon\|DEU}} Marcel Siem (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|18 Jul 2021\|format=dm}}	Euram Bank Open	Austria	align="right" \|190,000	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Stuart Manley (3)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|25 Jul 2021\|format=dm}}	Italian Challenge	Italy	align="right" \|300,000	{{flagicon\|PRT}} Ricardo Gouveia (4)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|8 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}	Vierumäki Finnish Challenge	Finland	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|DNK}} Marcus Helligkilde (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|14 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}	Made in Esbjerg Challenge	Denmark	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|PRT}} Ricardo Gouveia (5)	align=center\|9	NGL
{{dts\|20 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}	Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge	Denmark	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|NOR}} Espen Kofstad (4)	align=center\|9	NGL	New tournament
~~{{dts\|21 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}~~	Rolex Trophy	Switzerland	align="center" \|–	Removed{{cite web \|url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/news/articles/detail/rolex-and-the-r-a-to-join-forces-at-the-challenge-tour-grand-final/ \|title=Rolex and The R&A to join forces at the Challenge Tour Grand Final \|publisher=European Tour \|date=22 June 2021 \|access-date=19 September 2024 \|quote=Rolex’s long-term commitment to the Challenge Tour began with the Rolex Trophy which has been part of the Challenge Tour’s schedule since the inaugural season in 1989, however the support will now be concentrated on the Grand Final...}}	align=center\|–
{{dts\|29 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}	B-NL Challenge Trophy	Netherlands	align="right" \|250,000	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Alfredo García-Heredia (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament{{efn\|Tournament's debut delayed from 2020.}}
{{dts\|5 Sep 2021\|format=dm}}	British Challenge	England	align="right" \|£180,000	{{flagicon\|CHL}} Hugo León (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament
{{dts\|12 Sep 2021\|format=dm}}	Big Green Egg German Challenge	Germany	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Ángel Hidalgo (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament
{{dts\|19 Sep 2021\|format=dm}}	Hopps Open de Provence	France	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Alfie Plant (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|26 Sep 2021\|format=dm}}	Open de Portugal	Portugal	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|GER}} Marcel Schneider (3)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|3 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}	Swiss Challenge	France	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|DEN}} Marcus Helligkilde (2)	align=center\|12
~~{{dts\|17 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}~~	Hainan Open	China	align="center" \|–	Cancelled	align=center\|–	CHN
{{dts\|17 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}	Empordà Challenge	Spain	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Julien Brun (3)	align=center\|13		New tournament
~~{{dts\|24 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}~~	Foshan Open	China	align="center" \|–	Cancelled	align=center\|–	CHN
{{dts\|22 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}	Challenge Costa Brava	Spain	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|NZL}} Daniel Hillier (1)	align=center\|13		New tournament
style="background:#f2ecce;" \| {{dts\|7 Nov 2021\|format=dm}}	Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final	Spain	align="right" \|450,000	{{flagicon\|DEN}} Marcus Helligkilde (3)	align=center\|17		Flagship event

Rankings

The rankings were titled as the Road to Mallorca and were based on tournament results during the season, calculated using a points-based system.{{cite web |title=2021 Road to Mallorca |url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/rankings/overview/rankings/#season:2021; |publisher=European Tour |access-date=7 November 2024}}{{cite web |title=Helligkilde enjoys double delight at Challenge Tour's season finale |url=https://golfnews.co.uk/features/helligkilde-enjoys-double-delight-at-challenge-tours-season-finale/ |work=Golf News |date=7 November 2021 |access-date=29 August 2023}} The top 20 players on the rankings earned status to play on the 2022 European Tour (DP World Tour).{{cite news |title=Extra European Tour cards on offer during 2021 Challenge Tour season |url=https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12230/12200181/extra-european-tour-cards-on-offer-during-2021-challenge-tour-season |work=Sky Sports |first=Ali |last=Stafford |date=27 January 2021 |access-date=27 January 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sportinglife.com/golf/news/challenge-tour-graduates-player-profiles-as-dp-world-tour-welcomes-new-members/196210 |title=Challenge Tour graduates player profiles as DP World Tour welcomes new members |work=Sporting Life |first=Ben |last=Coley |date=24 November 2021 |access-date=29 August 2023}}

class="wikitable" !Rank !! Player !! Points
align=center\|1	{{flagicon\|DEN}} Marcus Helligkilde	align=center\|222,628
align=center\|2	{{flagicon\|POR}} Ricardo Gouveia	align=center\|188,291
align=center\|3	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Santiago Tarrío	align=center\|173,938
align=center\|4	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Julien Brun	align=center\|163,773
align=center\|5	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Frédéric Lacroix	align=center\|120,334

Notes

References

External links

{{official site|http://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/}}

2021

Category:2021 in golf

Category:2021 in European sport

Category:Sports events curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Date!!Tournament!!Host country!!Purse (€)!!Winner{{efn\|name=totals\|The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of Challenge Tour events they had won up to and including that tournament. This information is only shown for Challenge Tour members. It is rare for someone to accumulate many wins on the Challenge Tour as success at this level usually leads to promotion to the European Tour.}}!!OWGR points!!Other tours{{efn\|AFR − Sunshine Tour; CHN − China Tour; NGL − Nordic Golf League.}}!!Notes
{{dts\|25 Apr 2021\|format=dm}}	Limpopo Championship	South Africa	align=right\|R3,000,000	{{flagicon\|ZAF}} Brandon Stone (1)	align=center\|13	AFR
{{dts\|2 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open	South Africa	align="right" \|R3,000,000	{{flagicon\|ZAF}} J. C. Ritchie (2)	align=center\|13	AFR
{{dts\|9 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Dimension Data Pro-Am	South Africa	align="right" \|R6,000,000	{{flagicon\|ZAF}} Wilco Nienaber (1)	align=center\|13	AFR	Pro-Am
{{dts\|16 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Range Servant Challenge	Sweden	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|SCO}} Craig Howie (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament
{{dts\|22 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Dormy Open	Sweden	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Félix Mory (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament
{{dts\|30 May 2021\|format=dm}}	Irish Challenge	Ireland	align="right" \|220,000	{{flagicon\|NLD}} Daan Huizing (3)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|6 Jun 2021\|format=dm}}	D+D Real Czech Challenge	Czech Republic	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Santiago Tarrío (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|13 Jun 2021\|format=dm}}	Challenge de Cádiz	Spain	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|BEL}} Kristof Ulenaers (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|18 Jun 2021\|format=dm}}	Challenge de España	Spain	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Santiago Tarrío (2)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|27 Jun 2021\|format=dm}}	Open de Bretagne	France	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Julien Brun (2)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|4 Jul 2021\|format=dm}}	Kaskáda Golf Challenge	Czech Republic	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|DEU}} Marcel Schneider (2)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|11 Jul 2021\|format=dm}}	Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge	France	align="right" \|210,000	{{flagicon\|DEU}} Marcel Siem (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|18 Jul 2021\|format=dm}}	Euram Bank Open	Austria	align="right" \|190,000	{{flagicon\|WAL}} Stuart Manley (3)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|25 Jul 2021\|format=dm}}	Italian Challenge	Italy	align="right" \|300,000	{{flagicon\|PRT}} Ricardo Gouveia (4)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|8 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}	Vierumäki Finnish Challenge	Finland	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|DNK}} Marcus Helligkilde (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|14 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}	Made in Esbjerg Challenge	Denmark	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|PRT}} Ricardo Gouveia (5)	align=center\|9	NGL
{{dts\|20 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}	Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge	Denmark	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|NOR}} Espen Kofstad (4)	align=center\|9	NGL	New tournament
~~{{dts\|21 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}~~	Rolex Trophy	Switzerland	align="center" \|–	Removed{{cite web \|url=https://www.europeantour.com/challenge-tour/news/articles/detail/rolex-and-the-r-a-to-join-forces-at-the-challenge-tour-grand-final/ \|title=Rolex and The R&A to join forces at the Challenge Tour Grand Final \|publisher=European Tour \|date=22 June 2021 \|access-date=19 September 2024 \|quote=Rolex’s long-term commitment to the Challenge Tour began with the Rolex Trophy which has been part of the Challenge Tour’s schedule since the inaugural season in 1989, however the support will now be concentrated on the Grand Final...}}	align=center\|–
{{dts\|29 Aug 2021\|format=dm}}	B-NL Challenge Trophy	Netherlands	align="right" \|250,000	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Alfredo García-Heredia (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament{{efn\|Tournament's debut delayed from 2020.}}
{{dts\|5 Sep 2021\|format=dm}}	British Challenge	England	align="right" \|£180,000	{{flagicon\|CHL}} Hugo León (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament
{{dts\|12 Sep 2021\|format=dm}}	Big Green Egg German Challenge	Germany	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Ángel Hidalgo (1)	align=center\|12		New tournament
{{dts\|19 Sep 2021\|format=dm}}	Hopps Open de Provence	France	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|ENG}} Alfie Plant (1)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|26 Sep 2021\|format=dm}}	Open de Portugal	Portugal	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|GER}} Marcel Schneider (3)	align=center\|12
{{dts\|3 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}	Swiss Challenge	France	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|DEN}} Marcus Helligkilde (2)	align=center\|12
~~{{dts\|17 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}~~	Hainan Open	China	align="center" \|–	Cancelled	align=center\|–	CHN
{{dts\|17 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}	Empordà Challenge	Spain	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Julien Brun (3)	align=center\|13		New tournament
~~{{dts\|24 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}~~	Foshan Open	China	align="center" \|–	Cancelled	align=center\|–	CHN
{{dts\|22 Oct 2021\|format=dm}}	Challenge Costa Brava	Spain	align="right" \|200,000	{{flagicon\|NZL}} Daniel Hillier (1)	align=center\|13		New tournament
style="background:#f2ecce;" \| {{dts\|7 Nov 2021\|format=dm}}	Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final	Spain	align="right" \|450,000	{{flagicon\|DEN}} Marcus Helligkilde (3)	align=center\|17		Flagship event

class="wikitable" !Rank !! Player !! Points
align=center\|1	{{flagicon\|DEN}} Marcus Helligkilde	align=center\|222,628
align=center\|2	{{flagicon\|POR}} Ricardo Gouveia	align=center\|188,291
align=center\|3	{{flagicon\|ESP}} Santiago Tarrío	align=center\|173,938
align=center\|4	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Julien Brun	align=center\|163,773
align=center\|5	{{flagicon\|FRA}} Frédéric Lacroix	align=center\|120,334