Golf:With negotiations for some tournaments still going on, the European Tour have today released a 2010 schedule only up to The Masters at Augusta in April. The season will, as in the past few years, actually start this year with two events in South Africa before Christmas.
Two new events for the circuit — the Africa Open in South Africa in January and the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco in March — feature in the first sector.
Tour chief executive George O’Grady said: “We are delighted that, with the support of our partners in Dubai, we can confirm the way forward for the Race to Dubai (the new name for the Order of Merit) prior to the inaugural competition concluding in the United Arab Emirates next month.
“The Race to Dubai has brought a new dimension to our season and we are confident that, by continuing to globalise the game, it will grow in stature with the best golfers in the world being given the opportunity to compete in an exciting and dynamic season-long competition.”
With prize money for the coming Dubai World Championship slashed by 25 per cent there had been some speculation that the economic crisis around the world in general and Dubai in particular might see another change.
But Hamza Mustafa, acting managing director of Dubai sponsors Nakheel Leisure, said: “We are committed and proud to take our partnership with the European Tour forward into the new season.”
Among the changes expected to be seen when the full schedule is released is a move for the Irish Open, both in date and location.
An announcement is set for tomorrow that the event goes from mid-May - the weather was horrendous this year - to July 30th-August 2nd and from Baltray on the east coast to Killarney on the west.
European Tour schedule
2009
December
10-13Alfred Dunhill Championship, Leopard Creek, Malelane, South Africa
17-20South African Open Championship, Pearl Valley, Paarl, South Africa
2010
January
7-10Africa Open, East London, South Africa
14-17Joburg Open, Royal Johannesburg and Kensington, South Africa
21-24Abu Dhabi Championship, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
28-31Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy, Doha, Qatar
February
4-7Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates Club, United Arab Emirates
11-14to be confirmed
18- 21WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, Dove Mountain, Marana, Arizona
25-28tbc
March
4-7tbc
11-14WGC — CA Championship, Doral, Miami, Florida, USA
18-21Hassan II Golf Trophy, Royal Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco
25-28Andalucian Open, Parador de Malaga, Malaga, Spain
April
1-4Estoril Portuguese Open, venue tbc
8-11US Masters, Augusta National, Georgia
8-11Madeira Islands Open BPI-Portugal, Porto Santo, Madeira
