Commencing in 2017, the Rolex Series is the premium tournament category on the European Tour’s International Schedule. Presently comprising eight tournaments, staged in a variety of golfing locations around the world. The Rolex Series events will offer a minimum prize fund of US$7 million.
The first tournament of the new Rolex Series is the 2017 BMW PGA Championship that will be held at the Wentworth Club, between 25 May – 28 May 2017.
Probably the biggest challenge for European Tour CEO Keith Pelley is to find a solution to win back the best European golf professionals from the PGA Tour. He believes that $7 million is the minimum threshold for a quality tournament. Another interesting challenge for him to sell golf to fresh markets.
In light of the prize size, I would be interested in which PGA Tour stars will come over to play. Will they be able to compete physically on both tours?
Six Rolex Testimonees have won the BMW PGA Championship, two of whom – Luke Donald and Matteo Manassero – will tee up in the inaugural Rolex Series event.
Fellow Testimonees competing at Wentworth Club include the 2014 and 2018 European Ryder Cup Captains, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjørn, respectively, as well as those who are part of a new generation at the forefront of their sport, the Rolex New Guard: Thorbjørn Olesen, Thomas Pieters and Matthew Fitzpatrick, winner of the 2016 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.