2022 saw the second year of the Order of Merit and the competition was a resounding success. Building on the 2021 format 15 players took in 2022 and the deeper fields created fierce competition throughout the season.

It was a familiar face holding the trophy at the end of the season as David McColgan took home his second James Braid trophy in as many years. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing as rookie Paul Gowens lifted the MCM @ Aberdour and the King’s Cup, as well as the inaugural Inchkeith Cup and the Harry Vardon Trophy. McColgan was also defeated for the first time in 6 events on Links as Kevin Brannan took home the Tour Championship.

2023 will feature a much more settled field with 13 players coming back to compete. It will also feature two rookies, Richard Mair and Stuart Harwood.

The rota will remain unchanged in 2023 and therefore the schedule will be as follows;

April 2nd – St Andrew’s Open – The Eden Course, St Andrews
April 30th – Kinghorn Classic – Kinghorn Golf Club, Kinghorn
May 21st – Mearns Castle Memorial – Aberdour Golf Club, Aberdour
June 17th – Dodhead Invitational – Burntisland Golf House Club, Burntisland
July 23rd – King’s Cup – Canmore Golf Club, Dunfermline
August 20th – Forrester Open – Lochgelly Golf Club, Lochgelly
August 25th – Tour Championship – Craigielaw Golf Club, East Lothian

Like 2022 the players will compete for points in each of the events with double points on offer for both rounds in the Tour Championship. Points will be awarded to the top 75% of the field starting with 1200 points for the winner, 1000 points for the runner-up then on decreasing scales of 100 thereafter. The scale is shown below;

1st – 1200 points
2nd – 1000 points
3rd – 900 points
4th – 800 points
5th – 700 points
6th – 600 points
7th – 500points
8th – 400 points
9th – 300 points
10th – 200 points
11th – 100 points

In 2023 players will compete for the following honours;

The James Braid Quaich, and moniker of Champion Golfer of the Year, awarded to the player with the most points at the end of the season.

The Harry Vardon Trophy will be awarded to the player with the best average net score through the season.

The Inchkeith Cup will be awarded to the player with the best net score to par over Kinghorn, Aberdour and Burntisland – with the best 2 rounds counting.

If 2021 and 2022 are any indicators of the challenge ahead it is sure to be another exciting season. EuroDov Reporter and the team at From the Locker Room will be there every step of the way, so make sure you join us to follow the action in 2023.