The English Open is set to return to the DP World Tour calendar after a checkered history. Golfing legends such as Darren Clarke, Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam and Lee Westwood have all lifted the trophy. Now a new generation will have the chance to do the same.
The DP World Tour and England Golf have joined forces to resurrect the English Open. It will be played on the HotelPlanner Tour for this season and next. The aim is to promote it to the DP World Tour from 2028.
A National Open With a Patchy History
The English Open has experienced an inconsistent history. It was originally known as the English Golf Classic between 1979 and 1983. After merging with Lawrence Batley International, it then disappeared for a few years. Returning in 1988, it became a regular fixture on the European Tour schedule until 2002.
Since 2002, the English Open has only been held twice. An attempt to play it in 2009, coinciding with the PGA Championship, was thwarted when the host venue, St Mellion, encountered financial problems. It made a comeback in 2021 and 2022 due to a multi-year agreement with Cazoo, only for the online used car retailer to go bust shortly afterwards.
Details of the Revived Tournament
This year’s edition will be known as the English Open supported by HotelPlanner. The Vale Golf Club, near Birmingham, will host the event. The prize fund will be £300,000.
Executives Comment on the Return
DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings commented: “We are delighted with today’s announcement that, together with England Golf, we will be returning one of golf’s most prestigious titles to the global stage. It is a title with great resonance, hence this is a significant moment for us.”
Kinnings added: “This is also a new era for the relationship between our two organisations and we look forward to working together to help progress all aspects of the game in England.”
“For over 50 years national Opens have been a cornerstone of our international schedule, tournaments rooted in tradition and ones which shine a spotlight on the countries we play, the relationships we have fostered in these countries over decades, and on the communities that host them. The English Open’s return reflects that heritage.”
Jeremy Tomlinson, England Golf’s CEO, stated: “All of us at England Golf are excited to be entering into this new partnership with the DP World Tour to promote and deliver the English Open. Our player development pathway has a proud heritage of producing some of the finest golfers in the world, and we are committed to maintaining that record.”
“By reinstating the English Open and partnering with the DP World Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour, many of our young squad players will have the opportunity to not only experience professional tournament golf, but also begin to acclimatise to life in the professional ranks.”
“With clear ambitions to elevate the English Open back onto the main tour, this will provide another inspiring national platform to showcase everything that is great about our game in England.”