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
