The European Tour has announced changes to The 2009 European Tour International Schedule which will see the Austrian Golf Open, originally set to be played in June, replace the British Masters in September.
Prize money for the Austrian Golf Open, to be played from 17-20 September at Fontana Golf Club, Vienna, will be increased by the promoters, e/motion management gmbh of Seiersberg, from €800,000 to €1,000,000.
International Sports Management, promoters of the British Masters, have, in agreement with The European Tour, postponed the tournament for one year. The European Tour will work with ISM to secure funding for 2010.
The Vivendi Trophy with Severiano Ballesteros will be played from September 24-27 in the week following the Austrian Golf Open. The Madrid Masters will be played as originally scheduled on 8-11 October and full details of the prize fund and venue will be announced shortly. The Volvo World Match Play Championship is confirmed at Finca Cortesin Golf Club, Casares, Spain, from 29 October – 1 November.
A minimum of 11 tournaments will be played in the autumn sector of The Race to Dubai on The European Tour International Schedule from the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans Montana, Switzerland, from 3-6 September, when the qualification process begins for The European Tour for The 2010 Ryder Cup, through to the Dubai World Championship where The Race to Dubai concludes on the Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, UAE, from 19-22 November.
Prize money for those 11 tournaments will total approximately €34,000,000 and in addition there is the US$ 10,000,000 Race to Dubai bonus pool and a US$ 5,500,000 prize fund for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup at Mission Hills, China, on 26-29 November.
The European Tour will shortly announce total individual prize funds and confirmed venues for all tournaments in the lead-up to the inaugural Dubai World Championship.
European Tour www.europeantour.com