The DP World Tour and England Golf have announced a partnership to revive the historic English Open golf tournament.
The event will take place at The Vale Golf Club in Worcestershire from June 18-21, 2026.
The revived competition features an increased prize fund of £300,000. It replaces the existing England Golf Challenge on the second-tier HotelPlanner Tour schedule.
Organizers have planned the tournament to run on the HotelPlanner Tour for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Both governing bodies have outlined clear intentions to promote the event back onto the main DP World Tour schedule by 2028.
A Tournament with Rich History
The English Open debuted in 1979 as the English Classic at The Belfry.
It was held annually until 2002, when Darren Clarke secured his third title in four years at the Forest of Arden Country Club.
Financial constraints and corporate bankruptcies caused multiple cancellations and brief rebrandings, including the Cazoo Classic in 2021 and 2022.
The tournament then disappeared entirely from the calendar.
The return also honors the 15th anniversary of the passing of Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros, who won the inaugural tournament in 1979.
“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,” said Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour.
“It is a title with great resonance, hence this is a significant moment for us.”
“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,” Kinnings added.
The tournament historically featured prominent winners, including Ryder Cup veterans and major champions such as Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, and Lee Westwood.
“For over 50 years national Opens have been a cornerstone of our international schedule, tournaments rooted in tradition and ones which shine a spotlight on the countries we play, the relationships we have fostered in these countries over decades, and on the communities that host them,” Kinnings stated.
“The English Open’s return reflects that heritage.”
Pathway for Emerging Talent
Jeremy Tomlinson, Group Chief Executive Officer of England Golf, expressed excitement about the partnership.
“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,” he said.
The national governing body views the revived tournament as an essential pathway for domestic athletic development.
“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,” Tomlinson added.
Young squad members will secure exposure to elite professional environments through the new multi-tour agreement.
“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,” Tomlinson stated.
The organizers maintain long-term structural ambitions to elevate the tournament prestige across Europe.
“With clear ambitions to elevate the English Open back onto the main tour, this will provide another inspiring national platform to showcase everything that is great about our game in England,” Tomlinson said.
