The European Open will be held at The London Golf Club for the second consecutive year from 28-31 May 2009, following its successful return to England last season for the first time since 1994.
A world class field, including defending champion Ross Fisher of England, will contest the £2.4 million tournament which can secure precious earnings towards the inaugural Race to Dubai. Fisher profited most from the return of The European Tour to his native country in 2008 by claiming his second European Tour victory by an emphatic seven strokes over Sergio Garcia of Spain last July.
The European Open will once again be played over the 7,257 yard, par 72 Jack Nicklaus-designed Signature Heritage Course, which is one of two courses – along with The International – at The London Golf Club, near Brands Hatch in north Kent.
The Club has gained considerable recognition on both an international and national scale in recent years since The Bendinat Group acquired the 700 acre venue back in 2004. No stranger to tournament golf, the Club has hosted four European Senior Tour events and, with the forthcoming edition of The European Open next July, two main Tour events since its opening in 1994.
George O’Grady, chief executive of The European Tour, said, “Selecting The London Golf Club to host this prestigious event for the second consecutive year demonstrates our absolute confidence in the quality of facilities on and off the course at The London Golf Club.”
Charles Fairweather, chairman of The London Golf Club, said, “Everyone at the Club is delighted that the venue has once again been chosen to host The European Open. We were immensely pleased in 2008 by the reaction of Europe’s finest golfers to both the golf course and the facilities on offer at The London Golf Club and we look forward to an equally successful tournament in 2009.”
Last season was the first time The European Open had been played in England since it was held at East Sussex National in 1994, with The K Club in Ireland hosting the event for 13 successive years from 1995 to 2007.
The London Golf Club www.londongolf.co.uk