The Miguel Ángel Jiménez Circuit for under-18 golfers is set to expand its European frontiers. The Málaga-born global star has joined forces with European Tour colleague Bernd Wiesberger to launch a Ryder Cup-format Challenge Trophy in 2018 for boys and girls from Spain and Austria.
Teams of 12, comprising the top players in the under-18 and under-14 categories according to their results (in the case of the Spanish team) on the MAJ Circuit, will compete in the tournament in Spain next year and in Austria in 2019.
The MAJ Circuit was initiated in 2012 with six events and 257 players aged between seven and 18 years. Now in its sixth season, the circuit has involved more than 5,000 young golfers since its launch.
“My objective,” says Jiménez, “is to popularise golf and bring it closer to youngsters and teenagers, who are the future of the sport. There is no other kind of sport that provides as many values as golf does, a lesson for life that helps them become better people.
“Bernd Wiesberger is a role model for young Austrians, who has won three European Tour events… two Challenge Tour titles and the 2013 Indonesian Masters. He is just as excited as me and I know he will be keenly involved in the project.”
(Photos: Hugo Alcalde-Circuito MAJ)
