Should you be able to play your way into a European Tour event?

Fancy a shot at playing in a European Tour event? Now is your chance. Close House is set to host the 2020 British Masters and will be holding an 18-hole qualifier through which entrants can play their way into the tournament field.

For £125 club pros and elite amateurs can play a round on the Colt Course and be in with a chance of seeing their name on a world-class leaderboard.

This is a unique idea but is it a good one?

‘This will be a dream come true for somebody’

It’s every amateur’s dream to one day play in a European Tour event and for the European Tour to offer the chance for a regular club pro or elite amateur to fulfil this is a stroke of brilliance, writes Joe Hughes.

This has the promise of making a great story no matter how well the individual actually performs in the British Masters and that good publicity can’t be underestimated.

On a more relatable level, this provides hope for a whole lot of golfers who may be giving up faith of one day making it on an elite tour.

Of course, this isn’t a ticket to a tour card but it could well act as motivation and inspiration for the next generation of golfers to emerge from the shadows.

The entry fee is £125, which is actually £75 less than you would pay if you were to walk up and play the Colt Course at Close House on a regular day. Bargain.

This is a great initiative from the tour.

‘Players go to Q-School for a reason’

Part of me, quite a big part of me in fact, likes something different to talk about going into yet another 72-hole strokeplay event. This is a great initiative and whoever makes it through will generate some interest in his (or her?) efforts, writes Mark Townsend.

Imagine an elite amateur who gets the job done and then threatens to make the cut, it would be incredible.

Then the other part of me thinks of all the poor sods who do or don’t make it through Q School in a couple of weeks and they miss out because of this. As much as there are probably chinks in the European Tour’s eligibility system I like the idea of a list and everyone knowing where they are. Which is why I’m never really a fan of having a bunch of invites for a few locals or the same old faces.

It will be fascinating to see how much interest this British Masters event does generate, both in terms of entries and coverage. You’d think that any local pro within a few hours’ drive would take their chances on the Monday and give it a go.