The European Tour has announced that the Alstom Open de France will count as two tournaments played on The 2016 Race to Dubai and will carry enhanced Ryder Cup points as part of significant changes introduced for the historic event’s centenary edition.
There will also be an increase of €500,000 to the prize fund for continental Europe’s oldest national Open, which will take place from June 30 to July 3 at Le Golf National, in Paris, the venue for The 2018 Ryder Cup. Last month it was confirmed that The European Tour will not sanction the 2016 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which moved dates to the same week.
In recognition of the absence of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on next year’s European Tour International Schedule, the Tournament Committee agreed the Alstom Open de France will count as two events played, a measure designed to help members meet their new minimum requirement of five regular European Tour events.
In addition, the Tournament Committee also agreed to increase the Ryder Cup points on offer that week for both the World Points List and the European Points List. The winner of the 2016 Alstom Open de France will therefore collect 64 points towards the Ryder Cup World Points List and one million points towards the European Points List, with subsequent points also increased for other players making the cut.
There will also be a significant increase to the actual prize fund for the tournament itself, rising from €3million this year to €3.5million for 2016.
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive Officer of The European Tour, said: “We recognise that many of our members play a global schedule, and with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational not part of The Race to Dubai next year, these measures will help them do that again next year.
“At the same time, the changes for 2016 also reflect the importance of the Alstom Open de France to The European Tour, with the tournament having been an ever present on our International Schedule since our inception in 1972. Next year will be the 100th edition of the tournament, while it will be only two years until Le Golf National hosts The 2018 Ryder Cup, so I am confident these enhancements will add to the celebrations in Paris next year.”
Withdrawing the sanction for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational means that tournament will not be part of The 2016 European Tour International Schedule, nor will money or world ranking points won in it count towards The Race to Dubai or for Ryder Cup points.
European Tour www.europeantour.com
Le Golf National www.le-golf-national.com
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