Another development tour in the United Kingdom is set to launch in the coming weeks. This time it’s Scotland’s Paul Lawrie behind the series, which is helping to fill the tournament void that’s left in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scottish-based Tartan Pro Tour has an impressive list of venues to start, including Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch and St. Andrews (Jubilee and New Courses).
The events, organized by Lawrie’s Five Star Sports Management & Events company, will be open to both male and female professionals and played over 36 holes across two days with a maximum field size of 72.
“This period has been the strangest any of us have ever faced in our lifetimes and as professional sportspeople we are champing at the bit to get back competing,” said Lawrie in a release. “The Tartan Pro Tour has come about partly because Covid has obliterated our normal schedules.
“All of the pros I’ve had contact with throughout these past 12 weeks have no certainty that they’ll get a chance to play again this season at all. I’ve been so impressed by the efforts of the European Tour to get the UK Swing of events to the stage it’s at but for so many pros the remainder of the year looks unclear. For the players on the smaller circuits there’s little or nothing to set their sights on, sadly. And whilst there seem to be several smaller tours popping-up around the M25 Corridor, it’s a long way for pros from North of the Border to go without accommodation options and all the other considerations around air travel, etc.”
The entirety of the entry fees will go into the prize funds, which will be supplemented by corporate sponsors. The tour’s official partners are Farmfoods, Gym Rental Company, Blue Group, Cloudcube, Paul Lawrie Golf Centre and The R&A.
The leader of the Order of Merit at season’s end will receive invitations to the Challenge Tour. The tour kicks off Aug. 5-6 at Carnoustie, site of Lawrie’s 1999 British Open victory.
TARTAN PRO TOUR SCHEDULE 2020
Aug. 5-6 The Carnoustie Challenge (Carnoustie Championship Course)
Aug. 8-9 Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Par 3 Championship presented by Farmfoods (PLGC Devenick Course)
Sept. 7-8 Royal Dornoch Masters presented by Gym Rental Company (Championship Course)
Sept. 10-11 The Pollok Open presented by Blue Group (Pollok Golf Club)
Sept. 15-16 St Andrews Classic presented by Cloudcube (Jubilee & New Courses)
Sept. 23-24 Rowallan Castle Championship
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