‘Winners’ only’ event to open 2012 season

THE European Tour is set to break new ground in 2012, and also mirror the PGA Tour, with a ‘winners’ only’ event in Bahrain to start the new season.

The Volvo Golf Champions event in Bahrain will be the first tournament of the 2012 Race to Dubai schedule.

While this year’s inaugural event being played on the Royal Golf Club course features 126 players who between them captured 28 victories in last year’s Race to Dubai, from next year the event will be entirely for tournament winners from the 2011 Race to Dubai programme.

“This year’s first event is just the beginning and while it’s been a high profile start, but as of 2012, Volvo Golf Champions will be the season starting event,” Volvo Event Management president Per Ericsson said.

“The Race to Dubai and The European Tour will start here in Bahrain and we will only let winners from last year in. So it’s another type of event next year.”