Now they have their cards, how will the 20 Challenge Tour graduates perform on the European Tour in 2012?
Now they have their cards, how will the 20 Challenge Tour graduates perform on the full European Tour in 2012?
The top 20 money earners on the Challenge Tour were handed their 2012 European Tour cards on Sunday following the conclusion of the Grand Final in Italy.
Below, John Rhodes of Sky Bet gives his views on how the 20 will perform next season, with odds on who will earn most money on the European Tour in 2012.
We also have the additional expert thoughts of Matt Cooper, who attended the Grand Final and wrote skysports.com's
daily blog.
As is its intention, the Challenge Tour has been a real breeding ground for success down the years.
Last week's brilliant HSBC winner Martin Kaymer graduated from the Challenge Tour in 2006 while runner-up Fredrik Jacobson also came through the CT ranks.
In fact, seven of the last eight major winners have finished in the top 12 of a Challenge Tour event so there's every reason to believe that there could be a future superstar in the list below.
Challenge Tour: The class of 2011
Tommy Fleetwood (9/4): Everyone knows about Fleetwood's game now. Won the Kazakhstan Open, then was 5th in the Alfred Dunhill Links. Expect Tommy to land his maiden win next year.
Matt Cooper:
What really impresses with Fleetwood is his ball-striking and, as you'd expect of a Southport lad, he knows exactly how to hit a low trajectory. The Dunhill Links result was no surprise - if it is windy, keep him in mind.
Andrea Pavan (13/2): Pavan, a former world number one amateur, has had a really solid season, rounded off with victory in the Grand Final. A sweet swinger who has loads of game.
MC:
He undoubtedly has flair, confidence and bravado, but can he maintain it on the big stage, playing with the big boys? If he can, he might have something. Has an elegant swing and is a predatory putter.
Sam Little (12/1): Little could be described as the proverbial "journeyman". Been yo-yoing between the tours and q-school for years, but hit a stellar patch with three wins in four weeks.
MC:
John's right, but Little might have gained something this year, enough for a him to be more comfortable on the European Tour. The key is this: will he maintain the fresh new perspective or will the return to the main tour see him revert to old patterns?
Ricardo Santos (25/1): A season-defining year for the Portuguese star. A mid-season run of consistency meant a fourth place on the rankings, but I feel he may struggle a bit next year.
MC:
Interesting - prior to the Grand Final he linked up with the veteran Argentine caddie Jorge Gamarra (who has had long spells with Cabrera, Jimenez and F. Molinari). Gamarra was impressed with Santos' potential and work ethic; they've agreed to work together full-time from now on.
Benjamin Hebert (9/1): Hebert gained automatic promotion to the main tour this year after three wins. A strong contender and will be looking to improve on his first attempt at the European Tour in 2010.
MC:
Almost certainly the best of the French who have progressed this year. His three wins earned him Battlefield Promotion to the European Tour and in the few starts that resulted he showed a bit of form. One Tour observer rated him "a very good putter".
Daniel Denison (16/1): Denison was destined for huge things a few years back, before being involved in a near fatal car crash on the way to an event. Back to his best I wouldn't be surprised to see him keep his card.
MC:
Has an interesting habit of thriving on return to favourite courses. A nice habit but not that helpful going into a maiden European Tour season. More likely to do well via two or three good finishes than because of year-long consistency.
Federico Colombo (20/1): The Italian has yet to win on the Challenge Tour, and I feel the step up again to the main tour may prove one step too far.
MC:
Prior to chatting to the Italian Federation's coach (Alberto Binaghi, also Manassero's coach) I'd have agreed with John. But Binaghi impressed me and I trust his judgment. If he likes Colombo the guy must have something. He's also inspired by what his friend Lorenzo Gagli achieved this year.
Jamie Moul (20/1): 2012 will be the Englishman's rookie year. Has a best finish on the main tour of sixth in the Russian Open in 2007. One to note in the smaller events.
MC:
A very good traveller. Many of his best finishes have come in remote locations so bear him in mind in the far-flung corners of the Tour.
Jorge Campillo (16/1): Campillo had an unbelievable college career at Indiana, winning nine times, and is a former Palmer Cup player. Looks out for Jorge in events in Spain/Portugal. One to keep on the right side of.
MC:
When I discussed the Palmer Cup with him he couldn't stop grinning at the memory of having beaten Rickie Fowler! Like John, I think he'll be one to watch in Iberia. Has a youthful look but a mature outlook which bodes well.
Matthew Baldwin (28/1): Baldwin has gone on a meteoric rise since starting his pro career on the Alps Tour in 2009. A winner this season in Spain, it could be more of a learning curve for the Englishman next term.
MC:
Tough one to call. Like Denison, part of the ISM stable and that should help integration. His rise vaguely resembles that of Scott Jamieson, but Jamieson is a little unusual in having coped with swift advancement.
Edouard Dubois (28/1): Dubois bagged two victories last season. Another player, like Baldwin, who has progressed from the Alps Tour in 2009. Only 22 years old so he could be one to watch in future years.
MC:
Played just two seasons on the Challenge Tour, claiming two wins, one second and, in all truth, not much else. Might be a tough season.
Simon Thornton (20/1): Amazingly, only turned pro at the age of 28! Another player who has regained his card after losing it in 2010. Could pop up in the odd event, but generally could be in for another struggle.
MC:
Claimed his card with a stunning, bogey-free round of 64 that defied pressure, high wind and illness. Plays out of Royal County Down so another unafraid of blustery conditions. Doesn't plan to play until the New Year.
Julien Quesne (28/1): Quesne, pronounced "Khan" for when we see him on the leaderboards, is one of four Frenchman stepping up. Will be a battle to save his card.
MC:
Has matinee idol looks but struggled in his only previous attempt at the main tour (in 2010). Most of his best form has come in locations he is comfortable in (e.g. France, Switzerland) which doesn't bode well in the long term.
Craig Lee (40/1): A second place at the co-sanctioned St Omer Open helped the Scot to his tour card for 2012. A player who has plied his trade on the Tartan and Europro Tours mostly but has past main tour experience to help him.
MC:
Has profited from the support of a new initiative this year - Team Scottish Hydro - but will probably need the form of his life to regain his card. Will take heart from the success of last year's Scottish contingent though.
Andrew Johnston (33/1): Johnston was the player to gain his card in the least events having only played 10 times. Played the Jamega and Europro Tours since turning pro in 2009 and was third in the Tour Final, gaining him his card. The burly Englishman could surprise a few next term.
MC:
Found himself in the final group on the final day at Grand Final and did himself proud, at one point contending for the title and eventually completing a brilliant up-and-down, under enormous pressure, on the last hole to guarantee his card. I'm with John - could be a surprise package.
Sam Walker (28/1): The Brummie has been on tour many times but, like Little, struggles to hold onto his card. Has only regained it once in his career so will have to step up if he is to do the same next term.MC:
He was quietly emotional after grinding his way to a card. Another who knows how to play in the wind - in the final round he was hitting low shots close when others were hitting high shots that got lost in the wind.
Charles-Edouard Russo (33/1): The Frenchman has improved every year since 2008 and, after narrowly missing his card last year, scraped through this term. A big battle for him to have playing rights for 2013.
MC:
As John points out, a quiet improver but the players ranked 16th-20th have a huge task because of limited starts. In recent years only Alvaro Quiros and Lorenzo Gagli have overcome that burden - a fast start is essential.
Pelle Edberg (16/1): The flamboyant, bandana-wearing Swede is very capable on his day. Only scraped through in 18th place so won't get loads of starts and will have to take advantage when he does tee it up.
MC:
His promotion was a triumph of patience. His ball-striking was supreme all week but he missed so many short putts it was hard to believe his head didn't explode. He'll need that patience to last all year.
Chris Gane (40/1): The left-hander is a "steady-Eddie". Doesn't hit it far, but pretty accurate. One of the players, in my opinion, who is being passed by the youth of today hitting it miles.
MC:
I agree with John. Hard to see what has happened this year to help Gane do what he's failed to do before and retain his card.
Alessandro Tadini (40/1): Another player who yo-yos between the main and Challenge tours. Grabbed 20th spot in the rankings and again won't get many starts to keep his card.
MC:
If Anthony Snobeck or Jose-Filipe Lima had holed one more putt, Tadini would have missed out. Will he take advantage? His career record suggests he's up against it.
