The Invitational Tournament holds a unique place in the EuroDov Tour, in that it is the only Major that requires pre-qualification.

The 8 best player from the season ending Montgomery Cup qualify to take on the 36-hole challenge at Tulliallan in the hopes of adding a Major to their name.

In 2023 the field comprises of 7 qualifiers and two invitees collectively the field accounts for 26 Tour honours including 13 Majors and there are a number of exciting story lines to look out for as the tournament gets underway.

EuroDov Reporter takes us through the permutations and the probability of each outcome happening.

First time Major winner
Probability: 56%

The Major winner category on Tour is an elite group of players, only 7 players have ever lifted a Major – 21% of the Tour membership.

There are 5 players in the field who haven’t lifted a Major as yet, Stuart Allan, Graeme Connor, Kieran Lynch, Richard Mair and Callum McNeill.

The first two players are probably top of the list of ‘best players never to have won a Major’ at this point. Graeme Connor has finished runner-up in Majors three times now and many will be looking ot see if he can get over that hurdle.

Stuart Allan, who last won in 2021, is seen as contender this weekend and many onlookers are wondering what it will take for hi to find his form and win again, it is surely only a matter of time.

Second time Major winner
Probability: 22%

If the Major winner category is elite, then the multiple Major winner category is highly exclusive. Just two players Andy Love and David McColgan reside in this category, representing just 5% of the Tour membership.

The old adage that your first win is hard, but your second is the hardest is truly at play here. However, the Invitational Tournament offers two players the opportunity to break into this category. Kevin Brannan and Barry Cunningham are in with the chance of lifting the Invitational and their second Major.

Brannan – who broke out in 2022 winning the Tournament of Champions – won the seasons first Major the EuroDov Cup, a win at the Invitational would give him back-to-back Majors just like Love did in 2022.

Cunningham won the first ever Major played for on Tour, it has however been 10 years since that win, is his time come to finally add a second win to his name? He has the game and is actually really well suited to a shorter and tighter course. His home club is not far off the conditions he’ll find out on Tour this week and he could just add another star to his name.

Successful defence of a Major
Probability: 11%

Andy Love comes into the Invitational Tournament as the defending Champion. Although he failed to qualify out right, his two-year Champion exemption sees him in the field.

Love played exceptionally well in 2022, coming from behind on the last round to lift the trophy.

However, successful defences of Majors aren’t that easy, in fact only one player has ever managed it, David McColgan. He defended the EuroDov Cup (21-22), James Braid Quaich (21-22) and the Montgomery Cup (16-19) but this year his defence of the EuroDov Cup was thwarted by Kevin Brannan.

EuroDov Reporter has Love ranked as the favourite for the Invitational, and rightly so, and should he keep the good memories flowing from 2022 and keep his swing loose, there’s no reason he won’t take the trophy home after the weekend.

Grand Slam win
Probability: 11%

David McColgan has a chance to write his name into history by winning the Invitational Tournament this weekend as the first ever Grand Slam winner on Tour.

McColgan holds 9 Majors (4 x Montgomery Cup, 3 x EuroDov Cup and 2 x James Braid Quaich) but the one he desires the most is the Invitational Tournament.

If McColgan fails to win the Invitational in 2023, there could be comparisons to Rory McIlroy’s Masters Tournament jinx.

That’s a quick look through some of the potential story lines of the 2023 Invitational Tournament. EuroDov Reporter will be there bringing you all the news, insights and analysis so make sure to join us at Tulliallan Golf Club on Sunday 7th May.