The biggest talking points of the 2020 European Tour schedule
While we are still building to the climax of this season’s Race to Dubai, we have now got our hands on the full 2020 European Tour schedule.
As always, there are plenty of talking points, so let’s dive right in…
1. Strokeplay dominates (again)
There are 49 events on the schedule and 47 of them are standard 72-hole strokeplay – the WGC-Match Play and GolfSixes the anomolies here. So what’s happened to the Belgian Knockout and World Super 6 Perth?
Barely 24 hours after announcing a rebrand to showcase, among other things, its "innovative tournament formats", the European Tour reveals its 2020 schedule with the Belgian Knockout and World Super 6 nowhere to be seen.
— Alex Perry (@AlexPerryNCG) October 2, 2019
It’s a huge shame for the fans (and players) who enjoy something a bit different and it will be interesting see how the tour justify this, if at all.
2. Lots of ‘Venue TBC’
The Rolex Series is back for a fourth consecutive year and again features eight events which will have an elevated status and prize fund:
- Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
- Irish Open
- Scottish Open
- BMW PGA Championship
- Italian Open
- Turkish Airlines Open
- Nedbank Golf Challenge
- DP World Tour Championship
It is currently not stated where the Irish Open, Italian Open and Turkish Airlines Open, all Rolex Series events, will be held in 2020.
The Irish Open regularly moves venues with the most recent renewal played at Lahinch for the first time. Similarly, the Italian Open has bounced around the country and in 2019 returns to Olgiata where Ian Poulter was victorious the last time it was held there in 2002.
The Turkish Airlines Open has a shorter history and has only been held at two courses. After three years away the event returns to Montgomerie Maxx Royal and could well be the destination to take the event forward.
Also waiting for venues are the Maybank Championship, Volvo China Open, Scandinavian Invitation and Open de France, as well as two yet-to-be announced events in August.
3. Irish Open moved
Staying with the Irish Open, the tournament will not take up its spot immediately before the Scottish Open and Open Championship in 2020.
The three events offered a nice links swing when all scheduled close together but this will no longer be the case.
Stacking up against the Rocket Mortgage Classic, the Irish Open will now be played on the last weekend in May and the move should encourage a stellar field to assemble at whichever venue is chosen.
4. Another UK event is confirmed
One of the TBC events in August is confirmed to be in the UK.
This is literally all the information we have to go on for now. It’s a tournament, it’s in the UK, that’s it. But it means three events on our shores in four weeks, with the BMW PGA Championship not long after.
5. A return to Renaissance
The European Tour has had its critics when it comes to course set-up in recent times , and the defenceless Renaissance received some criticism after Bernd Wiesberger won the Scottish Open on 22-under-par in July.
Even the best of links courses often need the weather gods to protect them and Renaissance didn’t get that.
Either way, a quality field is guaranteed thanks to its positioning ahead of the Open.
Joe Hughes
Tour editor covering men's golf, women's golf and anything else that involves the word golf, really. The talk is far better than the game, but the work has begun to change that.
