uropean Tour chief executive Keith Pelley revealed no player will lose their Tour card in 2020 when he announced the new playing schedule including a UK Swing of six events

EUROPEAN Tour chief Keith Pelley has guaranteed no players will lose their playing rights as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc with its international schedule in 2020.

So any player who was inside the top 110 on the Order of Merit at the end of the 2019 season, will keep their cards for 2021, regardless of where they finish on the 2020 Race to Dubai.

As a result, the European Tour Qualifying School will not take place in November – along with the stage one and two qualifiers in September, October and November.

There will also be no automatic promotion from the Challenge Tour – the top 15 on the Race to Mallorca Order of Merit would normally earn their European Tour card for the following season.

The Challenge Tour’s schedule has also been dramatically curtrailed with the first six European-based tournaments between May and July either postponed or cancelled.

But the European Tour chief executive has reassured players they will reward any “exceptional” performances on either the European and Challenge Tours in 2020.

The exact details of any such rewards will be announced by the European Tour Tournament Commitee, said Mr Pelley.

Pelley added: “While the intention remains to crown a new Race to Dubai Champion on December 13, as part of the changes to the end of the 2020 season caused by the impact of COVID-19, the European Tour’s Tournament Committee recently agreed that all members’ 2020 categories, and their ranking within that category, will be retained in 2021 – with related playing rights being protected to the absolute maximum possible in the 2021 season.”

There will also be no minimum number of tournaments that need to be played in 2020 to guarantee membership for next year, he added after a unanimous vote by the powerful Tournament Committee, which includes players’ representatives as well as European Tour officials.

Pelley added: “We recognise that when we resume playing golf, each player’s circumstances will be different.

“We therefore do not want to put anyone in a position whereby they feel they have no choice other than to play in certain events in order to protect their livelihood.

“Similarly, the feeling was that it was not fair to disadvantage any member who might want to play in an event but who might not be able to due to ongoing travel restrictions.

“Therefore, in consultation with our Tournament Committee, it was agreed preserving their exempt status for 2021 was the fairest solution in these unprecedented times.”

EUROPEAN TOUR CREATES NEW ‘UK SWING’ WITH SIX EVENTS

Pelley thanks sponsors for support

THE European Tour chief went out of his way of praising the hosting venues and sponsors of four of its biggest Rolex Series events in helping to create the new UK Swing announced today.

Keith Pelley said: “Since the suspension of our 2020 season in early March, we have taken a measured approach in reassessing our schedule – informed every step of the way by our medical advisers and government guidance.

“We have consistently said that safety is our absolute priority and that is why we are announcing our resumption in two months’ time – supported by a comprehensive health strategy, which has been led by our medical team.

“Without question we have had to think differently about the remainder of our 2020 season which is reflected in today’s announcement.

“As golf’s global tour, diversity is ordinarily one of our biggest strengths. But in this instance it has become one of our biggest challenges.

“Initially, therefore, based on the expert guidance we received, playing in clusters, in one territory, is the best option in terms of testing, travel and accommodation.

“I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank Betfred, Close House, Marriott, the Forest of Arden, Hanbury Manor, Celtic Manor Resort and The Belfry for sharing our vision for this ‘UK Swing.’

“We look forward to returning to tournament play in July with this innovative stretch of six events.

“As well as getting golf going again for our players, our broadcasters, our stakeholders and our millions of fans around the world, these new events will also enable us to give back during these unprecedented times, building on some of the community support already given by our players over the past few months.

“I also want to pay tribute to Rolex, BMW, Aberdeen Standard Investments, the Scottish Government, Nedbank, Sun International and DP World, for their continued commitment to the European Tour, which allowed us to move four hugely important tournaments into new dates later in the year.

“Not only did they show flexibility, they also showed understanding of the current global situation and we are truly fortunate to have them as partners of the European Tour,” added Keith Pelley.

The European Tour will return to action at Close House, with the Betfred British Masters, from July 22-25. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

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The European Tour will return with six events in the UK between July and August – the Scottish Open will be played in October the week before the BMW PGA at Wentworth.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

THE European Tour will return with a new six-week ‘UK Swing’ starting in July – and revealed details of four new Rolex Series events.

The European Tour will play two Marriott venues and return to two Ryder Cup venues, while the BMW PGA Championship, at Wentworth, moves from September to October 15-18.

And there is a new date for the DP World Tour Championship Dubai. The climax to the Race to Duba season moves back to December to make room for more rearrgnged tournaments.

Fans will initially not be allowed to attend the UK events which will be televised and played behind closed doors.

The European Tour hopes to allow fans back when government restrictions are relaxed sufficiently.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open will be the first rearranged Rolex Series event of the 2020 season.

North Berwick’s Renaissance Club will now stage the Scottish Open from October 8-11, instead of the week before The Open, which has already been cancelled.

The first tournament of the UK Swing is the Betfred British Masters – which will be hosted by Lee Westwood – at Close House, near Newcastle, from July 22-25 – a week earlier than originally scheduled.

It will be followed by the English Open at the Marriott Forest of Arden (July 30-August 2) and the English Championship, at Hertfordshire’s Marriott Hanbury Manor, from August 6-9.

The next two legs will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort, in Newport.

The 2010 Ryder Cup venue which will host back-to-back European Tour tournaments – the Celtic Classic (August 13-16) and the Wales Open a week later.

The European Tour’s final UK Swing event will take place at The Belfry, where Europe won the Ryder Cup for a third time out of four matches played at the West Midlands course, in 2002

Ryder Cup venues support UK Swing

THE new format sees a timely return to South Wales as Celtic Manor marks the 10th anniversary of Europe’s dramatic victory against the USA.

The UK Swing will conclude with the UK Championship at The Belfry, another venue rich in Ryder Cup history, from August 27-30.

The Belfry’s Brabazon Course played host to four contests with Europe triumphing in two – 1985 and 2002.

The USA won in 1993 with the 1989 match ending in a 14-14 tie.

South Africa’s Nedbank Golf Challenge is now scheduled for December 3-6 at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club.

And the DP World Tour Championship, will take place a week later at Jumeirah Golf Estates, when the 2020 Race to Dubai Champion will be crowned.

Details of subsequent tournaments from September through to November will be announced in due course, the Tour said.

A “variety of scheduling options” are currently under consideration as the global COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, a European Tour statement said.

“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 statement added.

The Tour’s Health Strategy has been developed by Dr Andrew Murray.

The Euorpean Tour’s chief medical officer worked in consultation with healthcare specialists Cignpost – and advisers in many of the 30 countries the Tour plays in.

Cignpost will deliver the Tour’s testing procedure over the coming months.

“The strategy will continue to evolve, aligned with international Government guidance and health guidelines,” added the European Tour.

European Tour will give £500k to charities

THE new tournaments will also form part of the Tour’s new ‘Golf for Good’ initiative, which aims to give back in three key areas:–

▪ Supporting communities where the European Tour plays
▪ Rewarding true heroes, such as frontline workers
▪ Promoting many health benefits golf offers.

Under the ‘Golf for Good’ initiative the European Tour will give away £500,000 to charity.

They money will be equally distributed between local charities at each UK venue, and good causes chosen by the leading 10 players in a mini-Order of Merit running across the six British tournaments.

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