European Tour renamed DP World Tour in historic Dubai-backed deal
The European Tour, as it has been known for nearly five decades, is no more. As part of a $1 billion mega deal, golf’s second-biggest pro circuit has been rebranded the DP World Tour, just a couple of weeks shy of its 50th anniversary.
From the start of the 2022 season, each event will have a minimum purse of $2m, making the circuit more appealing for players and staving off the threat of breakaway tours.
An extra stop on the Rolex Series has also been added. All five of the lucrative events will now boast prize purses of at least $8m, with a record $10m up for grabs at 2022’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
As well as the name change, the tournament schedule has been given a major makeover. As it stands, there will be 47 events, made up of 23 in Europe and 24 in other countries around the world.
Keith Pelley, CEO of the European Tour Group, insisted the name reflects the Tour’s global nature and his own vision: “When I joined, I told the board that I felt the name of the tour was a misnomer and did not reflect our brand. The launch of the DP World Tour in 2022 will herald a new era in global golf, and crucially it will benefit everybody involved.”