Historic English Open Golf Tournament to Return After 24-Year Hiatus with £300,000 Prize Fund The DP World Tour has announced the revival of the English Open, a prestigious golf tournament last held in 2002, with plans to reintroduce it as part of the Challenge Tour schedule in 2026 and 2027. The event aims to eventually feature on the DP World Tour in 2028, marking a significant milestone for English golf. The tournament will be hosted at The Vale Golf Club in Worcestershire, with the 2026 edition scheduled for June 18-21. The revamped competition will offer a prize fund of £300,000, a substantial increase from previous years. The English Open, once a cornerstone of the European Tour between 1979 and 2002, will return to the global stage after a 24-year absence. The decision to revive the event was made in collaboration with England Golf, emphasizing its historical significance and potential to showcase the sport in England. Darren Clarke, a Northern Irish golfer, won the last edition of the tournament in 2002 at the Forest of Arden Country Club, securing his third consecutive victory at the venue. The tournament’s return is highlighted by its rich history, with notable champions including Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie, and Mark James. Ballesteros, a legendary figure in golf, won the first English Open in 1979, then known as the English Classic, at The Belfry. The Belfry hosted nine of the event’s first ten editions, with the exception of Royal Birkdale in 1988. The Forest of Arden became the venue for the final ten editions between 1993 and 2002. Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, praised the English Open’s return, calling it “one of golf’s most prestigious titles.#dp_world_tour #english_open #the_vale_golf_club #england_golf #worcestershire
