European Challenge Tour: Rolex Trophy 2017
22.08.2017

The prestigious Rolex Trophy is the longest-running tournament on the Challenge Tour, having formed part of the schedule ever since the tour’s inception in 1989.

Each year, an exclusive field assembles at Golf Club de Genève, with the top 42 players on the Road to Oman taking part in a pro-am format, unique in the Challenge Tour season. The tournament takes place from 23 -26 August 2017.

Joel Girrbach will be the only Swiss PGA tour player competing in the field. He arrives back in Switzerland for this week’s Rolex Trophy with the memories of his maiden European Challenge Tour victory at the Swiss Challenge still fresh in his mind.

The Swiss knows Golf Club de Genève well, having competed in national events here throughout his junior and amateur career. That victory has taken him within striking distance of the top 15 on the Road to Oman and enabled him to play in this week’s prestigious event for the second time, following his debut in last year’s tournament. “It’s a very different situation to last year, to be here as a winner and to get into the field myself, not needing an invite, so that’s very special."

With the season now almost two-thirds of the way through, increasing focus is placed on European Tour graduation, and Girrbach acknowledges that, following a breakthrough victory, there is added expectation on him – but that, ultimately, he puts the most pressure on himself. “The goal is the top 15,” he said. “To get there you need a lot of top tens, or another win, and I think that has to be the goal now. I need some more of those solid weeks and I hope it can start here in Geneva."

We wish Joel all the best for this year's Rolex Trophy!