eGolf Professional Tour Awarded Exemption Into European Tour’s 2011 King Hassan II Trophy
By Stewart Moore
The tournament, which pairs professionals with amateurs in a Pebble Beach-style format, was recognized as an official European Tour event for the first time this year as part of The Race to Dubai. The event was first contested in 1971 and boasts past champions such as Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Nick Price, Seve Ballesteros and Lee Trevino.
The 2011 edition will be contested at Agadir Royal Golf Club, located inside the walls of the Royal Palace. The purse for the 2010 King Hassan II Trophy was €1,361,205 (Euros), or the equivalent of $1,727,754 (USD).
"The Association du Trophee Hassan II de Golf (ATH) is pleased to provide the eGolf Professional Tour with this spot in one of the European Tour's marquee events," said Karim Guessous, Sports Director of the ATH. "We were very impressed by the play of the 10 eGolf Tour players at our Moroccan Golf Classic in June, especially champion Chris Baker. They proved without doubt to be an excellent addition to our field, and we are certain the winner of the Race to Morocco this fall will do the same."
The par-4 1st at Mid Pines G.C.eGolf Tour winner Chris Baker earned one of the ten spots in this year's Moroccan Golf Classic and made the most of his opportunity with rounds of 69-66-72-68—275 and his first career Challenge Tour title. The win immediately vaulted the Indiana native into the top 20 on the Challenge Tour money list. At the conclusion of the 2010 Challenge Tour season, the top 20 players on the money list will earn their 2011 European Tour cards.
"The eGolf Professional Tour is extremely happy to accept this spot into the King Hassan II Trophy," said eGolf Tour president David Siegel. "The goal of the tour has always been to provide multiple avenues for our players to further their careers, and this spot will certainly help to do so for one deserving member this fall. We are honored to be the first United States-based developmental tour to receive an exemption into a European Tour event."
In addition to a spot in the event, the ATH will provide round-trip airfare from New York's JFK International Airport to Agadir, Morocco for the winner of the exemption.
The eGolf Tour's Race to Morocco will be comprised of the following four events this fall:
| September 8-11 | The Manor Classic presented by Office Depot |
| September 22-24 | CFAC Classic presented by Sharpie |
| September 28-30 | Pine Needles Classic |
| October 12-14 | Callaway Gardens Championship |
Points will be awarded to the top 20 members and ties at each event, with the points broken down as follows:
| 1st: | 2,500 |
| 2nd: | 2,000 |
| 3rd: | 1,600 |
| 4th: | 1,400 |
| 5th: | 1,200 |
| 6th: | 1,000 |
| 7th: | 900 |
| 8th: | 800 |
| 9th: | 700 |
| 10th: | 600 |
| 11th: | 550 |
| 12th: | 500 |
| 13th: | 450 |
| 14th: | 400 |
| 15th: | 350 |
| 16th: | 300 |
| 17th: | 250 |
| 18th: | 200 |
| 19th: | 150 |
| 20th: | 100 |