Written by: Manvi Singh

The European Tour announced a groundbreaking evolution for the golf world along with their long-term partner, DP World.

The agreement heralds a new era in the history of the European Tour group, which, along with DP World, will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022, the first season of the newly named DP World Tour.

The announcement is a representation of a significant deal in the global sports partnership, with DP World’s substantial commitment dedicated to three key areas: elevating the Tour in every way, growing the game of golf globally, and driving positive community impact.

Driving the golf game further to the global horizons, the announcement also came with the revelation that the minimum prize purse for each tournament will be at least $2 million solely sanctioned by the DP World. 

In 2022, the DP World Tour will represent a truly global tour through an international schedule, that will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments in 27 different countries, including new tournaments in the UAE, Japan, South Africa and Belgium and an expanded Rolex Series comprising five events: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the Genesis Scottish Open, the BMW PGA Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

DP World’s Tour title partnership will help enhance the following key areas:

• Biggest prize fund in European Tour history: Overall prize funds in 2022 will be more than US$140 million for all tournaments outside the Majors and World Golf Championships, outstripping the previous all-time pre-pandemic high of US$130 million in 2019.
   
• A grand US$10 million closing for the Tour: The season finale DP World Tour Championship will hold a record-breaking pocket purse of US$10 million. The first European Tour event in history outside the Majors and WGCs to feature an eight-figure prize fund.
   
• A significant investment in the Challenge Tour: To elevate prize funds and increase playing opportunities, as well as improve the overall infrastructure of events.
   
• Establish the annual John Jacobs Bursary Award: Supporting the top five players on the Challenge Tour Rankings at the end of the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A with their travel and expenses the following year on the DP World Tour.

The European Tour chooses to create a drive positive community impact by the expansion of Tour’s ‘Golf for Good’ overarching CSR initiative, supporting the charitable initiatives and disability golf along with continued collaboration with the women’s game.