Mizuno Expands Partnership with Clutch Pro Tour

Hot on the heels of a partnership with the LPGA, Mizuno has expanded its commitment to the Clutch Pro Tour throughout 2021.  The move is part of Mizuno’s quest to identify and develop their next generation of golfing talent.

The Clutch Golf platform offers events from grassroots through to elite levels open to both males and female – a platform for player development.  Mizuno were one of the first partners in 2020 and will partner in 2021 across the Clutch Golf network, including the Clutch Pro Tour, the Clutch Amateur Tour, The Clutch Junior Tour and the Clutch International Series.

Mizuno will continue as official manufacturing partner for 2021 as well title sponsorship of two UK Clutch Pro Tour events, two Clutch Junior Tour events and a Clutch International Event scheduled for Gloria Golf in Turkey this December.

Mizuno’s OJ Farrell is a 2 time winner on the Clutch Pro Tour and now tipped for greater things.

The Clutch Pro Tour consists of 25 events open to men and women, with a total prize fund of £340,000 for the season. The top three finishes on the Order of Merit pick up entry to Q school, entry into a Challenge or LET event, plus a place in Open Qualifying.

The Clutch Pro Tour s a superb, inclusive platform that provides an opportunity for new talent. The standard of play is extremely high and, with the Clutch Amateur Tour and Clutch Junior Tour, the ambition to expand the game and encourage new players is clear. It’s something we’re very pleased to be a part of.

 Alex Thorne – Mizuno Tour Operations Manager.

Mizuno has already boasted a number of winners on the Tour – with Scott Gregory and Oliver Farrell claiming titles. In May 2021 Farrell completed his 2nd Clutch Pro Tour win at The Oxfordshire.  Farrell now has starts on the Challenge Tour and is expected to make an impact at higher levels of the game.

Mizuno’s Scott Gregory was one of many professionals grateful for an opportunity to compete. Gregory won in 2020 at The Shire – the last professional event before COVID lockdown.

With so many tours restricted through the onset of COVID  last year – there was a need for something different.  An opportunity for players to compete – where a youngster could measure themselves against an established European Tour Pro.  COVID created somewhat of a vacuum for competitive golf – the Clutch Pro Tour was exactly the right project in a difficult time.

For every young player who breaks through the conventional channels – there’s another who didn’t quite get their break at he right time.  Whether that’s because they developed a little later, had an injury or just bad luck – given the right platform these players can still make a big mark on the game.  The Clutch Pro gives these talented players another route.  It’s exactly the right project at the right time and falls perfectly in line with what we’re trying to do at Mizuno.  Over the years there have been 24 world #1’s and 13 of those have improved themselves by playing Mizuno equipment somewhere along the way.  That’s a legacy Mizuno is incredibly proud of –  we want to lay the foundations to make sure that continues.

Alex Thorne – Tour Operations Manager.

Mizuno’s Alex Thorne and Tom Haywood from the Clutch Pro Tour confirm an expansion of the association.

The 2021 Order of Merit winner will receive a full-service equipment deal with Mizuno for the 2022 season, including clubs, apparel and footwear, plus on-going support from Mizuno’s team of European Tour technicians; while the Japanese manufacturer will also provide equipment support to a selection of leading players on the Clutch Pro Tour through the 2021 season.

For more on Clutch Golf, visit www.clutchprotour.co.uk