THE European Tour has launched golf’s first esports series, the European eTour – which will see players taking on Topgolf’s World Golf Tour, which is played by some 20 million people online worldwide.

And the best esport players in the world will get the chance to qualify for the live onsite events via an online tournament.

Starting at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January, the inaugural season-long eTour will feature six esports contests held at European Tour tournaments around the world.

A long-time leader in online golf competitions, WGT by Topgolf offers the most photorealistic golf gaming experience – giving players the opportunity to virtually play some of the most famous golf championship courses.

The eight players who qualify will compete onsite at European Tour events in an exciting nine-hole knockout matchplay format, initially in two round-robin groups, before straight knockout semi-finals and final.

The five tournament winners, along with three wildcards qualifiers, will then contest the season-ending finale at the European Tour’s own season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, which takes place at Jumeirah Golf Estates, from November 19-22, 2020.

Topgolf is currently developing additional European Tour virtual venues to add to its portfolio of WGT golf courses and helping the Wentworth-based Tour – along with epsorts specialists Dreamhack.

DreamHack will bring their extensive esports events and streaming production capabilities to create a premium fan experience.

Fans will be able to enjoy extensive live coverage as well as bespoke ancillary content of all six European eTour events across a multitude of platforms, including broadcast, digital and social media.

The European Tour held its first esports event earlier this year with WGT and DreamHack.

The inaugural European eTour Championship took place at the 2019 Made in Denmark, and the success of that tournament led to the development of the new series of one-day events across the 2020 calendar.

The exclusivity of the European Tour’s esports experience amplifies the benefit of players participating in the event, and the ability to virtually be part of real world tournaments, said a spokesman.

Chief content officer Rufus Hack said: “The launch of the eTour underlines the European Tour’s commitment to innovation, and we believe this is an exciting opportunity for us to be leaders in a market that has huge growth potential.

“The esports industry allows the European Tour to engage with our existing audience in a different way and attract new fans outside of our traditional demographic through our broadcast and digital platforms.

“Our inaugural event in Denmark earlier this year gave a glimpse into the popularity of esports and we are looking forward to launching golf’s first esports Tour in 2020.”

Dreamhack Sports Games chief executive Peter Nørrelund said: “We see a great future for sports games in esports.

“The combination of a good game and a strong player in traditional sports is a winning recipe.

“World Golf Tour is a superior golf game and natural platform for golf esports, and European Tour is one of the strongest brands in the world of sports.

“With our ability to create content, media products and build strong communities I am sure, the European eTour will be a smashing success.

“I am thrilled with the partnership,” Mr Nørrelund added.

Topgolf media president YuChiang Chen said: “We are constantly innovating around how we can connect people in meaningful ways and the competition of esports brings a large, diverse group of people together to share a common experience.

“WGT was always built to be a realistic simulation of golf – rewarding skill and mirroring the level of strategy, course management and mental toughness required to win in professional golf.

“The WGT players have been urging us to take this next step and we look forward to partnering with such innovative partners to further enhance the modern competition of golf and launch an unmatched esports tournament experience on WGT.”

The esports industry is one of the fastest growing media sectors with an audience of more than 380 million enthusiasts worldwide which is forecasted to surpass 1.6 billion by 2022.

A majority of esports fans are in the 18-34 age demographic.

•Find out more about Topgolf’s World Golf Tour by clicking here.

The post European eTour allows you to take on best courses with online game leader Topgolf appeared first on Golf North.

Sweden’s Joakim Bjorkman is one of two invites for the EDGA Dubai Finale which will be played over 36 holes during the DP World Tour Championship at Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf Estates, next month. Picture by GETTY IMAGES / EUROPEAN TOUR

SWEDE Joakim Bjorkman and American Chad Pfeifer are the final two EDGA golfers confirmed for the EDGA Dubai Finale, the new 36-hole tournament for Golfers with Disability.

It will run alongside the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates, in November.

The EDGA Dubai Finale will be staged on November 22 and 23 – at one of the European Tour’s biggest events of the year – with six players from the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) qualifying, plus the two wildcard invitations accepted by Bjorkman and Pfeifer.

Bjorkman, a two-time winner of the European Team Championship for Sweden, suffers from achondroplasia – a form of short-limbed dwarfism – and will compete for the first time at the inaugural EDGA Dubai Finale.

Bjorkman said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to tee it up alongside some of the best golfers in the world at the EDGA Dubai Finale in November.

“The European Tour and EDGA lead the way when it comes to promoting the game for golfers with a disability and providing us with playing opportunities.

“It has been incredible to see over the past year with events like the EDGA Scottish Open and I am thrilled to be part of the inaugural event in Dubai,” Bjorkman added.

Pfeifer, the current World No. 10, is a former US Army Airborne Infantry veteran and three-time National Amputee Champion in the United States.

Chad Pfeifer is a US Army veteran and will travel from the USA as the second invite for the EDGA Dubia Finale. Picture by GETTY IMAGES / EUROPEAN TOUR

“The EDGA Dubai Finale is going to be an exceptional event and I can’t wait for the challenge,” said Pfeifer.

“It is a great field stacked with so many talented golfers and I have no doubt the golf course will be a fantastic test for us all.”

The eight-man field will also feature EDGA Scottish Open champion Brendan Lawlor, Englishmen George Groves and Mike Browne, Frenchman Charles-Henri Quélin, American Chris Biggins and Australian Geoff Nicholas.

DP World Tour Championship tournament director David Garland said: “We are thrilled to have the EDGA Dubai Finale running concurrently with the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

“We cannot wait to see these eight incredible golfers put their skills to the ultimate test at Jumeirah Golf Estates next month.

“The European Tour is excited to continue our work alongside EDGA to offer golfers with disability the opportunity to play competitive tournaments at our highest profile events and to ultimately promote the inclusive nature of our game to our global audience.”

EDGA president Tony Bennett said: “The eight players who will compete are not only representing golf as an inclusive sport but stand on the shoulders of thousands of golfers who have impairments, some of whom, due to the severity or nature of their impairment, could never dream of taking on such a golf course under tournament conditions.

“With gross, nett and Stableford rankings available on the official WR4GD, golf is recognising that all competitors can reach the higher levels in their respective rankings,” added Tony who is also the International Golf Federation’s head of disability and inclusion.

“The players on show will represent EDGA, and the growing body of players who compete in golf despite their impairment, exceptionally well, not only on the golf course, but in the way that they interact with the fans, the press and those who wish to try golf as a viable sporting option.

“Our thanks go to the European Tour, DP World and RSM for making this opportunity possible to showcase the abilities of the players who have worked hard to compete.”

“The EDGA Dubai Finale field is shaping up nicely and we are thrilled to be championing Golfers with Determination at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship,” said Daniel Van Otterdijk, senior vice-president of DP World Group Communications.

“The initiative ties in nicely with the Year of Tolerance and builds on our 10-year partnership with the European Tour, that continues to attract thousands of young people from the UAE to golf each year.”

Scoring for both tournaments will feature on the European Tour’s website and app for fans to follow, while highlights of both contests will form part of the world feed broadcast.

Entry List – 2019 EDGA Dubai Finale
Category One – Leading six available players from the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) week 36.
George Groves – England
Mike Browne – England
Brendan Lawlor – Ireland
Charles-Henri Quélin – France
Chris Biggins – USA
Geoff Nicholas – Australia
Category 2 – Tournament Invites
Joakim Bjorkman – Sweden
Chad Pfeifer – USA

The post EDGA Dubai Finale line-up confirmed with invites for Bjorkman and Pfeifer appeared first on Golf North.