What is the Clutch Pro Tour?
Michael Weston investigates a new professional circuit with healthy prize pools and mixed fields
f you follow the feeder tours – the likes of the Challenge Tour, Europro Tour and Alps
Tour – you’ll know just how many aspiring professionals there are trying to reach that next level. Turning pro doesn’t give you a licence to print money – far from it.
Playing opportunities and experience competing in high-quality fields for significant prize money are what’s needed, and that’s exactly what the Clutch Pro Tour provides. It’s a Tour with one or two differences, too.
Former professional Tom Hayward knows how difficult it is to make that step up; he’s made several appearances on the Challenge Tour and been through the unforgiving process of Qualifying School. Things didn’t work out – a lack of funds, too few events and not many options, feasible ones at least. All those years involved in the game, his “huge passion” hasn’t gone to waste, because he’s now pouring his efforts into “Clutch”.
“For mini-tour players, sponsorship is hard to come by, so I just thought there should be more opportunities out
Ithere for players where they can go and win something substantial,” says Hayward. “You win £10,000 at one of our events and you can plan your next six months.”
In total, there’s £200,000 up for grabs at 18-hole tournaments up and down England, which will run throughout the rest of the year. Hayward continues to work hard bringing new sponsors on board, with Cobra Puma Golf and Mizuno already providing support. Win a ‘Major’ and you’re guaranteed a first prize of £10,000 – and the events come thick and fast. In June, Notts Hollinwell attracted a stellar field of over 120 players, where
Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-smith pipped Ryder Cup star and local favourite Andy Sullivan to the title.
A host of other European Tour and Ladies European Tour players have added star quality to the fields, including the likes of Robert Rock, Jamie Donaldson, David Horsey, Connor Syme, Charley Hull, Felicity Johnson and Meghan Maclaren.
An open platform
“It’s a fantastic learning ground,” four-time European Tour winner Horsey tells Golf Monthly. “The competition is very strong, so you’ve got to go out and shoot a good score. It’s about learning the art of competition and winning.”
Hayward believes strong fields are crucial for players with serious ambitions. “These are the guys you want to be competing against,” he says. “If you get the better of them, imagine the confidence and push forward that could give you in your career. Over 18 holes anything can happen, and that’s the beauty of the one-day format.”
It’s not the only unique aspect of the
“Everyone competes on the same course for the same prize fund”
tour. Unlike most other tours, the CPT was created as an open platform for male and female professionals. Everyone competes on the same course and for the same prize fund. In July, Sunningdale Heath welcomed its strongest mixed field for the Open Access Masters. England teenager Thalia Kirby finished leading female and amateur in a field that included Dame Laura Davies and Trish Johnson.
Modest! Golf, which looks after some of the most exciting young male and female players in the game, has partnered with CPT and is excited about its future. “We’re doing a major drive to encourage more girls and ladies to play,” says Mark Mcdonnell of Modest! Golf. “We are always very passionate about providing opportunities for young players as they start out on their journey, and we love the fresh concept of this tour.”
The more the merrier
As do its competitors. Hampshire golfer Billy Watson, who plies his trade on the Europro Tour, finished in a tie for third at Sunningdale Heath, and he’s thrilled to have extra playing opportunities. “It gives pros of all levels a chance to compete on great courses for season-changing prize money. Right now, with the problems the world is in, it’s incredible that we are being given the chance to play.”
The Series visits Cavendish and Kedleston Park in September, with three more events scheduled in October at Frilford Heath, Sonning and Berkhamsted, before visiting Woodhall Spa in November. There are also plans to add Scottish and Irish swings in 2021.
“It’d be great to get to satellite status,” says Hayward, who’s buoyed by the progress that has been made since the tour launched last year. “I’d like it to become an official feeder tour to the European and Challenge Tour. It’s going to take some hard graft, but we want to be offering £20,000-£30,000 prizes to these players.”