The MENA Tour has announced plans to recommence playing 15 or 16 events from October 1, including the five postponed events from last season, in a letter sent out to players.
The letter states that the season is set to start in Jordan and then move to the UAE and Oman at venues that are willing to stage back to back tournaments, have facilities that allow players to stay on-site (or very close by), provide quality practice and gym amenities, varied food and beverage options, onsite COVID testing and interesting activities that are not golf-related.
From October 1, the Tour plans to initially play the five postponed events from 2020 before holding 10/11 events for the 2021 season which is scheduled to finish on December 20.
“Our 2021 schedule is designed to limit travel, minimise quarantine for players, provide two plus months of competitive golf with limited downtime and provide an environment that is a COVID safe as possible.” – David Spencer, MENA Tour Commissioner.
“There is absolutely no doubt that we are all living in a new world and I do not see 2021 being too much different from 2020. I do think that 2021 will be a year of recalibration and 2022 promises to be relatively normal, positive and calm. I am extremely confident that the plan that is set out is fully achievable…that being said, if there are further changes they will be done from pure necessity. We will make sure that the 2021 plan is fully confirmed to all players by June 15th at the latest. This gives everyone more than three months’ notice before we recommence play.”
All current members of the MENA Tour will be eligible to rejoin the MENA Tour after the first five tournaments for the next part of the 2021 season. In agreement with the Official World Golf Ranking body, there will no Qualifying School for the next part of the 2021 season and all events will be limited to a maximum field of 132 players which will comprise of current MENA Tour members and new MENA Tour members. The new MENA Tour Members are eligible to play in the first five tournaments of the 2021 season but will not be able to participate in the 2020 Journey to Jordan.
The 2022 MENA Tour season is set to start in the first four months of 2022 and plans are currently being developed to create playing opportunities in Q2 and Q3 of 2022. At this stage, it will be necessary for players who do not qualify for the 2022 MENA Tour season via their place in the 2021 Journey to Jordan to attend Qualifying School which will be played in January 2022.
