The European Tour has announced the resumption of their 2020 season with the launch of a new six-week ‘UK Swing’ as well as confirming new dates for four Rolex Series events, including the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
Following the suspension of the season on March 8 due to the global Coronavirus pandemic, the European Tour will return to action initially behind closed doors in July and run through until December – with the new date for the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates set for 10-13 with Jon Rahm the defending champion.
All tournaments will be subject to stringent safety and testing protocols set out in the Tour’s comprehensive Health Strategy which will continue to evolve, aligned with international Government guidance and health guidelines.
The first tournament in the ‘UK Swing’ is the Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood, which will be played at Close House, near Newcastle from Wednesday July 22 to Saturday July 25 – a week earlier than originally scheduled.
It will be followed by the English Open at the Marriott Forest of Arden and the English Championship at Marriott Hanbury Manor, before The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport hosts back-to-back European Tour tournaments – the Celtic Classic and the Wales Open.
Timely Return
It is a timely return to the south Wales resort as this year also marks the tenth anniversary of Europe’s dramatic victory against the United States in The 2010 Ryder Cup at the same venue.
The UK Swing will then conclude with the UK Championship at The Belfry, another venue rich in Ryder Cup history, having played host to four contests with Europe triumphing in two (1985 and 2002), the US having won in 1993, with the 1989 match ending in a 14-14 tie.
Evolving Situation
Details of subsequent tournaments on the European Tour from September through to November will be announced in due course, with a variety of scheduling options currently under consideration as the global situation continues to evolve.
However, rescheduled dates have been announced for four Rolex Series events; the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, which now takes place from October 8-11, and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club which moves to the following week, October 15-18.
There are also new dates for the final two tournaments of the year. The Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player is now scheduled for December 3-6 at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, with the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, now due to take place from December 10-13 at Jumeirah Golf Estates, where the 2020 Race to Dubai Champion will be crowned.
The remaining schedule on the 2020 European Tour:
UK Swing
Jul 22-25 (W-S): Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood, Close House Golf Club, England
July 30- Aug 2: English Open, Marriott Forest of Arden, England
Aug 6-9: English Championship, Marriott Hanbury Manor, England
Aug 13-16: Celtic Classic, The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales
Aug 20-23: Wales Open, The Celtic Manor Resort, Wales
Aug 27-30: UK Championship, The Belfry, England
Rolex Series:
Oct 8-11: Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, The Renaissance Club, Scotland
Oct 15-18: BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth Club, England
Dec 3-6: Nedbank Golf Challenge Hosted by Gary Player, Gary Player CC, South Africa
Dec 10-13: DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, Jumeirah Golf Estates, UAE
Jon Rahm: winner of the 2019 DP World Tour Championship
