Sweden’s Sjöholm eyes Euro Tour spot

dubai — As the countdown to the Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge begins, Sweden’s Joel Sjöholm is looking to Jordan Smith, winner of last year’s inaugural event, for inspiration in one of the European Challenge Tour’s most significant events.

Taking place at the Al Hamra Golf Club from Oct. 26-29, the Ras Al Khaimah tournament is the penultimate stop on the Road to Oman and one of the last remaining opportunities, for players to gain a spot in the all-important top 15 on the season rankings to gain promotion to the European Tour.

Having finally secured his first title in his tenth season as a Tour professional at the Italian Challenge Open by Lyoness in July, the 32-year-old now has his sights set on emulating Smith, whose victory at the at the inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Golf Challenge in his rookie season last year sealed top spot on the Road to Oman Rankings.

The win proved to be a springboard to further success on this year’s European Tour where Smith has already won his first title at the Porsche European Open and risen to 18th in the Race to Dubai with his spot in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in November already guaranteed.

“I think that all of these fantastic stories of players that go from nothing to everything very quickly shows you that the Challenge Tour is a great place to be but you want to get off it as soon as possible to progress to the European Tour and everyone wants to be like Jordan Smith,” said Sjöholm who was getting some practice in at the European Tour Performance Institute at Jumeirah Golf Estates ahead of the crucial run in of the Challenge Tour season.

The Challenge Tour is a great place to be but you want to get off it as soon as possible Joel Sjöholm