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.
>>> Enhanced Games Sparks Fierce Doping Dispute Ahead of Las Vegas Debut
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.”
