Five key takeaways from the 2020 European Tour schedule
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Five key takeaways: The new schedule features 49 Race to Dubai events in 29 different countries, including eight Rolex Series events.
The European Tour have released their 2020 schedule: Here’s five things you need to know
Quick turnaround
The new schedule begins with the Hong Kong Open and Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, just four days after this year’s Race to Dubai finishes on November 24. The first 18 events also take place outside of Europe and include visits to Kenya, Oman and Saudi Arabia. World Tour anyone?
The Rolex Series returns
All eight events remain unchanged with a minimum $7 million kitty at each. The series begins at the Abu Dhabi Championship in January, followed by the Irish Open in late May and the Scottish Open the week before The Open. The season closes at the World Tour Championship in Dubai (Nov 19-22).
47 of 49 tournaments are 72-hole strokeplay events
Only the Vic Open and GolfSixes offer something different, which means there’s no space for the Belgian Knockout, World Super 6 Perth or Shot Clock Invitational. The Open de France also clashes with the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational on July 2-5, and remains without a sponsor.
Ryder Cup race heats up at Valderrama
April 30 launches phase two of the qualification campaign for Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup team. Points earned at the Andalucía Masters and at subsequent counting events through to the end of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth (Sept 10-13) will be multiplied by 1.5.
Back-to-back UK events in August
The British Masters, hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House, has been moved to July 30-Aug 2, the same week as the men’s Olympic golf competition in Tokyo. The good news is that it will be followed by two new tournaments straight after, including one in the UK (venue TBC).
Full schedule: europeantour.com
Key Dates
January
16-19: Abu Dhabi Championship (ROLEX SERIES)
February
20-23: WGC-Mexico Championship, USA
March
25-29: WGC-Match Play, USA
April
9-12: The Masters, Augusta National
May
14-17: US PGA Championship, Harding Park
28-31: Irish Open, TBC (ROLEX SERIES)
June
18-21: US Open, Winged Foot
July
2-5: WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational, USA
9-12: Scottish Open, Renaissance Club (ROLEX SERIES)
16-19: The Open, Royal St George’s
30-2 Aug: British Masters, Close House
30-2 Aug: Olympic Men’s Golf Competition, Tokyo
September
10-13: BMW PGA Championship, Wentworth (ROLEX SERIES)
25-27: Ryder Cup, Whistling Straits
October
8-11: Italian Open, TBC (ROLEX SERIES)
29-1 Nov: WGC-HSBC Champions, China
November
5-8: Turkish Open, TBC (ROLEX SERIES)
12-15: Nedbank Golf Challenge, SA (ROLEX SERIES)
19-22: World Tour Championship, Dubai (ROLEX SERIES)
