One of the greatest accolades for European golfers is to be a member of The European Tour, however this comes at a price…entrants have to endure the taxing European Tour Qualifying School that has been held every year since 1976.

At the end of each season, golf’s European elite gather to establish who will gain their playing privileges on the Tour for the year ahead through a grueling qualifying competition. Unsurprisingly this is an event that draws hundreds of competitors with around 1,000 entering every year. Only the top 30 will be granted the coveted European Tour Card and will have to play in the region of 252 holes of golf under intense pressure…not for the faint hearted!

The Qualifying School is held in three stages at a series of courses across the UK and Continental Europe and PGA Catalunya Resort hosts the final stage welcoming over 150 players to both their famous Stadium and Tour Courses.

Players will be put through their paces on each course every day for the first four rounds. After 72 holes there will be a cut to the leading 70 players (and ties) who will then play a further two rounds on the notorious Stadium Course. After 108 holes the leading 30 players will be ranked according to scores and placed in the Category 11 of the European Tour for the 2011 season.

And if the honour of inclusion on the European Tour is not enough, £150,000 of prize money will be split between the 30 top players depending on their position.