Nine European Tour events in doubt
In announcing their schedule for next year, the European Tour could not provide a definite venue for the Madeira Island and Andalucia Opens in March; the Spanish, Italian, Irish and European Opens in May; the British Masters and Canal Plus tournaments in September; and the Seve Trophy in October.
Finding appropriate sponsors for some of these events is proving a formidable task for officials even though they are understandably buoyed by the advent of the inaugural Race to Dubai, culminating in the Dubai World Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in the UAE next November when a prize fund of $10 million (€7.4m) will be on offer. That in turn has prompted the likes of Phil Mickelson to consider joining the European Tour.
