Lahinch gets July Tour date as schedule is released

THE EUROPEAN

TOUR yesterday confirmed the dates for next season with the Irish Open at Lahinch starting on July 4.

The British Masters remains on the schedule and will be hosted by Ryder Cup hero Tommy Fleetwood (above).

The tournament only made a return to the Tour four years ago but it was feared it would again drop off the calendar as sponsorship came to an end.

Eddie Pepperell is the current holder having won at Walton Heath earlier this month.

Now Fleetwood will host the British Masters in Southport as it takes its place among 49 events, spanning five continents.

The 2019 tour will begin with the Hong Kong Open on November 22, 2018 and culminate in Dubai a year later.

Despite growing political and humanitarian criticisms, the Saudi International will take place at the Royal Greens in Saudi Arabia from January 31.

The Open de France, hosted by Le Golf National – the venue for Europe’s Ryder Cup success last month – drops out of the Rolex Series events.

It is replaced by the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which will boast a prize fund of $7million.