The Open de France, a European Tour mainstay missing from the primary 2021 agenda, is again | Golfing News and Tour Details
When, just prior to Christmas, the European Tour announced its agenda for 2021, there was 1 specially noteworthy title lacking from the line-up. The Open de France, on the Outdated World circuit’s calender due to the fact the tour’s inception in 1972, was nowhere to be seen. But now it is again. Following a year’s absence because of to the COVID-19 pandemic, the oldest of the European continent’s national championships will be played May perhaps 6-9 at Le Golf Nationwide exterior Paris.
Apart from 1999 and 2001, the Open de France has been performed more than the 2018 Ryder Cup training course just about every 12 months since 1991 and features a distinguished record of champions. Considering the fact that it was first held in 1906, when long run Open winner Arnaud Massy took the title, important champions JH Taylor, James Braid, George Duncan, Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Bobby Locke, Roberto De Vicenzo, Byron Nelson, Kel Nagle, David Graham, Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Retief Goosen, Jose Maria Olazabal, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell have all etched their names on the Stoiber Cup.
The news is not all great, having said that. Prize cash this year is €1.5 million, a considerably cry from the €7 million on give in 2017 and 2018, when the event was portion of the worthwhile Rolex Series. The most modern title sponsor, Amundi, also has departed, possessing made the choice to change to the Evian Masters, one of the five key championships on the LPGA Tour. As of now, Amundi has not been changed.
Continue to, the new slot on the agenda does fill a conveniently positioned gap, a single that matches the European Tour’s coverage of minimizing journey in between situations as much as is practically attainable. As a result, the Open up de France will be the fourth event in a 5-7 days spring stretch on European soil between the Masters and the PGA Championship, joining the Tenerife Open up, Gran Canaria Open up, Portugal Masters and Betfred British Masters.
Keith Pelley, European Tour Main Executive, said: “The Open de France is one particular of our most historic tournaments, and Le Golf National is a person of the foremost venues in Europe, so we are delighted to verify that the two will aspect as portion of our agenda this calendar year. As effectively as remaining part of a vacation-welcoming operate in Europe at that time of the yr, the event also allows us celebrate the excellent heritage of the national opens on the European Tour.”