Historic golf event to be resurrected in England after 24 years with £300,000 prize fund
The DP World Tour has announced plans to revive the historic English Open – which was last held in 2002.
In partnership with England Golf, the tournament will return as part of the Challenge Tour schedule this year and in 2027, with hopes for it to feature on the DP World Tour schedule in 2028.
Once a prestigious event, the English Open was an annual event on the European Tour between 1979 and 2002.
It boasts a number of high-profile former winners, including Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke.
Northern Irishman Clarke was the last winner of the event 24 years ago, as he triumphed at former venue Forest of Arden Country Club for the third time in four years.
English Open 2026: Date and prize money
After announcing the English Open’s return, the DP World Tour revealed it will be played at The Vale Golf Club in Worcestershire.
And it won’t be long before the tournament kicks off, which is set to take place between June 18-21.
There will be plenty to play for, with the revamped competition also featuring an increased prize fund of £300,000.
The details for next year’s English Open, and the 2028 edition’s staging on the DP World Tour, will be revealed further down the line.
‘One of golf’s most prestigious titles’
Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, Guy Kinnings, welcomed the English Open’s return to the golfing calendar.
He said: “We are delighted with today’s announcement that, together with England Golf, we will be returning one of golf’s most prestigious titles to the global stage.
“It is a title with great resonance, hence this is a significant moment for us.
“This is also a new era for the relationship between our two organisations and we look forward to working together to help progress all aspects of the game in England.
“For over 50 years national Opens have been a cornerstone of our international schedule, tournaments rooted in tradition and ones which shine a spotlight on the countries we play, the relationships we have fostered in these countries over decades, and on the communities that host them.
“The English Open’s return reflects that heritage.”
Meanwhile, England Golf CEO Jeremy Tomlinson insisted the English Open’s reinstatement would create valuable opportunities for emerging English talent.
Tomlinson remarked: “Our player pathway has a proud history of producing world-class golfers.
“By reinstating the English Open, many of our young squad players will gain first-hand experience of professional tournament golf while preparing for life in the professional ranks.
“We have clear ambitions to elevate the English Open back onto the main tour and provide another national platform to showcase the game in England.”
The news of the revamped English Open comes after an historic weekend for golf in the country.
It follows Aaron Rai becoming the first Englishman in 107 years to win the US PGA Championship at Aronimink in Philadelphia on Sunday.
Historic event
The English Open first featured on the European Tour in 1979, when it was known as the English Classic.
That year, the winner was the legendary late Ballesteros, who triumphed at The Belfry, which hosted nine of the event’s first ten editions – aside from Royal Birkdale in 1988.
The Forest of Arden later became home to the final ten editions between 1993 and 2002.
As well as Ballesteros, Montgomerie and Clarke, the English Open’s former champions also includes former Ryder Cup captains Mark James and Ian Woosnam.
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