The Faldo Series has announced its European tournament schedule for 2020 that will see 19 events played across three continents, before a winner is crowned in November’s Grand Final at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, Abu Dhabi.
Now in its 24th year, the Series aids junior golf’s development through serious competition and aims to grow the game by staging events in less-established golfing nations. This year, more than 2,000 young hopefuls will tee it up in qualifying events around the world, in a bid to make it to the Abu Dhabi venue for a chance to claim one of junior golf’s most coveted prizes.
The schedule announcement follows one of the most successful Faldo Series years to date in 2019, and 2020 is set up to be even better with the South America Qualifier in Brazil returning for another year, as the Faldo Series continues to promote its ethos of ‘Growing The Game’ and ‘Developing Tomorrow’s Champions’. Junior golfers can view the schedule and sign up to a qualifier HERE
During its events, the Faldo Series makes commendable efforts to grow the game at a local level as Sir Nick’s team of industry experts, including coach Keith Wood, encourage communities to become inspired by golf, ensuring juniors from all backgrounds have the opportunity to learn and be introduced to the game.
Faldo Series Director, Matthew Faldo, said: “Last year was a great year for the Series in Europe, with 10th anniversaries in Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Visiting countries we have never been to before was also a real privilege and I’m delighted to see some of these events back on our schedule for another year. The Grand Final at Al Ain was certainly one of the most dramatic finishes I’ve ever witnessed, so I can’t wait for the 2020 season to get started.”
The Series will continue to offer a rare opportunity for the very best juniors from each country to test themselves against their contemporaries from other nations, on some of the best courses in the world. Each stage is played at immaculate courses and prestigious venues in the lead up to the Grand Final, where they will tee it up hoping to be crowned Faldo Series Europe Champion from a field of over 70 golfers. The first event on the European schedule is the Middle East Girls and Boys, hosted at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club.
Last year’s final was won by rising English golf star Arron Edwards-Hill following a thrilling final round where he shot an incredible 8-under par 64 to win by two. Chang Hsin Chiao of Chinese Taipei, who also played on the LET circuit in 2019, successfully won the Girls’ U21 category after booking her place in the Europe Grand Final by winning the Asia Grand Final at Laguna Lang Co in Vietnam in March 2019.
Formed immediately after Sir Nick Faldo’s sixth and final Major win at the 1996 Masters, the Series is steeped in tradition and has been a critical stepping-stone in many of the best players in the game’s rise to the top. Stars such as Eddie Pepperell, Danny Willett, Oliver Fisher and four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy, along with the LPGA Tours’ Melissa Reid and Ladies European Tour’s Carly Booth, are all Faldo Series alumni.
