The DP World Tour and England Golf are bringing back the English Open, as part of a multi-year process to get the long-standing event back on the DP World Tour schedule.
First, the event will be on the developmental HotelPlanner Tour in 2026 and 2027, with the goal of having the event on the DP World Tour schedule in 2028.
The English Open supported by HotelPlanner will take the place of the existing England Golf Challenge on the current HotelPlanner Tour schedule and will be played at The Vale Golf Club from June 18-21 with an increased prize fund of £300,000.
“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," said Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour
“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."
Seve Ballesteros was the first winner of the English Open when it featured on the then European Tour back in 1979, with the English Open announcement made on the 15th anniversary of his passing.
"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," said Jeremy Tomlinson, Group Chief Executive Officer of England Golf. "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."
The Belfry hosted the event for nine of its first 10 years (Royal Birkdale held it in 1988) before the Forest of Arden course hosted the last ten stagings of the event from 1993 until 2002.
Some of the other notable champions of the event are Mark James (1989 and 1990), Ian Woosnam (1993), Colin Montgomerie (1994) and Darren Clarke (1999, 2000 and 2002).
