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.
>>> Adrien Broner Faces Weight Class Struggles Ahead of Boxing Comeback
The resurrected competition features an increased prize fund of £300,000. It replaces the England Golf Challenge on the second-tier HotelPlanner Tour schedule.
Organizers plan to run the tournament on the HotelPlanner Tour for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
They aim to promote it back onto the main DP World Tour schedule by 2028.
Historic Tournament Returns
The English Open debuted in 1979 as the English Classic at The Belfry, won by Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros.
The tournament was held annually until 2002, with Darren Clarke securing 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.
Notable past winners include Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, and Lee Westwood.
>>> Jarren Duran's Two-Run Homer Lifts Red Sox Over Royals 4-3
Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, expressed delight at the announcement.
“We will be returning one of golf’s most prestigious titles to the global stage,” he said.
The collaboration aims to strengthen ties between the organizations while elevating the tournament’s profile.
Kinnings added, “This is also a new era for the relationship between our two organisations.”
Jeremy Tomlinson, Group Chief Executive Officer of England Golf, highlighted the importance of the event for player development.
“By reinstating the English Open, many of our young squad players will have the opportunity to experience professional tournament golf,” he said.
The tournament organizers seek to establish a sustainable long-term footprint in European professional golf.
>>> Mboko to Face Fernandez in Strasbourg Open Quarterfinals
The return of the English Open coincides with English golfer Aaron Rai winning the US PGA Championship, the first Englishman to do so since 1919.
