Golfer James Sugrue is heading for the Challenge Tour in 2026

Golfer James Sugrue capped off a great year on tour with another top six finish at the Clutch Tour Championship last week. 

That finish meant that Sugrue finished third in the Order of Merit, and has earned a full card for the 2026 HotelPlanner Challenge Tour. 

After a slow start with a level par opening round, the Mallow man roared into life and carded two 65’s in the next two rounds to finish ahead of his nearest challengers for the big prize for 2026.

“I’m just delighted to be back playing at the sort of level that I know I can play at,” said Sugrue after it was confirmed that he had secured a card for next year. 

“There’s no room for a bad stretch or missing a few cuts when you’re playing on this tour with only three cards to aim for, and I played consistently well all year. I think I deserve this card.”

The 28 year-old was fully committed to the UK based Clutch Pro Tour this year, playing in 19 events which was the most of any of the top ten. 

In his first season back after two years of injury he made the most of 2025, and got a nice reward. 

He had two runner up finishes in September and October to rise up the rankings make a run for the top three at the final event of the season.

Sugrue’s breakout performance happened in 2019 when he won the Amateur Championship, becoming the second Cork golfer to do so. 

Following in the footsteps of the great Jimmy Bruen as a winner of the most prestigious and historic amateur event, Sugrue put on a great performance in Portmarnock that week.

As a result of that win, he went on to play in the Open Championship in Royal Portrush the following month, and he was selected for the Walker Cup team in Royal Liverpool later that year.

He also had a number of important events lined up, two invitations for PGA Tour events, as well as the US Open and the Masters. 

Covid however put a stop to almost all golf events in early 2020 but he did get to play in the other two majors. 

While he missed the cut at the three majors he played in, he has the record of being the only Irish amateur to go under par at Augusta National, shooting a one under par 71.

Sugrue turned professional in 2021, he played in seven Challenge Tour events and although he made the cut in four events it wasn’t enough to claim a tour card for 2022. 

He played mainly on the Alps Tour in 2022, but didn’t claim the win or two that’s needed at that level to progress. 

2023 and 2024 were tough year’s for Sugrue, he struggled with a number of injuries which meant that he was limited in when he could play, as well as having limited status. 

Just five starts last year meant that he moved out to nearly 3,000 in the OWGR rankings. 

A year is a long time in golf, and with 19 Clutch events behind, Sugrue has jumped almost 2,000 places in the rankings.

After a long season with plenty of travel and at times plenty of pressure, James can now ease up, knowing that next year’s schedule is confirmed. “For November I probably won't do a whole lot, just tip away and continue to work on things in the range with Michael,” said Sugrue after returning home from UAE. 

“For December then I'll probably try and get down to Spain or Portugal and play in a few events in Spain in the winter tour or in Portugal and Portugal ProTour. I haven’t seen the schedules yet, whichever is more accessible.”

Being injury free was the first part of the solution for Sugrue and some very solid golf ensured he had some high rakned finishes. 

And it will be a case of continuing the good work for James, as he ups his preparation for the new challenges.

“I’ve done a lot of work on my putting this year, which seemed to be the difference. 

"I’m just going to continue to work as all aspects of the game and continue to work away with Michael. 

"It will be a case of working on the same things and try to get better, there will be a bit of a step up on Challenge Tour and everything will need to be a bit sharper.”