The European Tour announced its 2016 schedule on Tuesday in Dubai, whose 45-event docket kicks off in two weeks in South Africa.
The schedule will largely be similar to last year, with 26 countries hosting events, including swings through South Africa, the Middle East, continental Europe and Australasia. The second EurAsia Cup, the 2016 Ryder Cup and the 2016 Olympic golf tournament are special events added to the schedule. The Australian PGA Championship and inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia will make their European Tour schedule debuts, while the Perth International returns after a year off.
The weather-plagued Madeira Islands Open, Africa Open, Russian Open and Hong Kong Open are not on the schedule.
The tour's Race to Dubai Final Series will drop from four events to three, with the WGC-HSBC Champions now out of the mix, and the Nedbank Golf Challenge replacing the exiting BMW Masters. Curiously, the Nedbank tournament will effectively be played twice during the season -- once in its originally scheduled slot, Dec. 3-6, and again as the 72-player new event at the end of the season.
Here is the 2016 European Tour schedule:
Nov. 26-29 -- Alfred Dunhill Championship, Malelane, South Africa
Dec. 3-6 -- Australian PGA Championship, Gold Coast, Australia
Dec. 3-6 -- Nedbank Golf Challenge, Sun City, South Africa
Jan. 7-10 -- BMW SA Open, Johannesburg, South Africa
Jan. 14-17 -- Joburg Open, Johannesburg, South Africa
Jan. 15-17 -- Eurasia Cup, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jan. 21-24 -- Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Jan. 27-30 -- Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, Doha, Qatar
Feb. 4-7 -- Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Feb. 11-14 -- Tshwane Open, Waterkloof, South Africa
Feb. 18-21 -- Maybank Championship Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Feb. 25-28 -- Perth International, Perth, Australia
March 3-6 -- WGC-Cadillac Championship, Doral, Fla.
March 10-13 -- True Thailand Classic, Hua Hin, Thailand
March 17-20 -- Hero Indian Open, India
March 23-26 -- WGC-Dell Match Play, Austin, Texas
April 7-10 -- Masters, Augusta, Ga.
April 14-17 -- Spanish Open, Spain
April 21-24 -- Shenzhen International, Shenzhen, China
April 28-May 1 -- Volvo China Open, China
May 5-8 -- Trophee Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
May 12-15 -- AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, Beau Champs, Mauritius
May 19-22 -- Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, Kildare, Ireland
May 26-29 -- BMW PGA Championship, Surrey, England
June 2-5 -- Nordea Masters, Stockholm, Sweden
June 9-12 -- Lyoness Open, Aztenbrugg, Austria
June 16-19 -- U.S. Open, Oakmont, Pa.
June 23-26 -- BMW International Open, Pulheim, Germany
June 30-July 3 -- French Open, Paris
July 7-10 -- AAM Scottish Open, Inverness, Scotland
July 14-17 -- British Open, Ayrshire, Scotland
July 28-31 -- PGA Championship, Springfield, N.J.
Aug. 4-7 -- Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play, Aberdeen, Scotland
Aug. 11-14 -- Olympics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Aug. 18-21 -- D+D Real Czech Masters, Prague
Aug. 25-28 -- Made in Denmark, Farso, Denmark
Sept. 1-4 -- Omega European Masters, Crans Montana, Switzerland
Sept. 8-11 -- KLM Open, Spijk, Netherlands
Sept. 15-18 -- Italian Open, Parco Reale di Monza, Italy
Sept. 22-25 -- Porsche European Open, Bad Griesbach, Germany
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 -- Ryder Cup, Chaska, Minnesota
Oct. 6-9 -- Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, St. Andrews, Scotland
Oct. 13-16 -- British Masters, Hertfordshire, England
Oct. 20-23 -- Portugal Masters, Vilamoura, Portugal
Oct. 27-30 -- WGC-HSBC Champions, China
Nov. 3-6 -- Turkish Airlines Open, Antalya, Turkey
Nov. 10-13 -- Nedbank Challenge, Sun City, South Africa
Nov. 17-20 -- DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
