The English Open is returning to the professional circuit this June. A new partnership between the DP World Tour and England Golf brings the historic title to the Vale Golf Club.

Under the name of the Cazoo Classic, the Open was last contested in 2022. It was originally known as the English Golf Classic between 1979 and 1983 and was an annual event on the European Tour until 2002.

“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,” said Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour.

This year, the event will return on the HotelPlanner Tour and will feature on it next year as well. The main goal of the DP World Tour and England Golf is to bring back the English Open on the DP World Tour calendar in 2028.

The Vale Golf Club in Worcestershire will host the English Open. The tournament will replace the current England Golf Challenge and is scheduled from 18th to 21st June. There will be an increase in the prize fund, confirmed at £300,000.

"All of us at England Golf are excited to be entering into this new partnership with the DP World Tour to promote and deliver the English Open. Our player development pathway has a proud heritage of producing some of the finest golfers in the world, and we are committed to maintaining that record,” said Jeremy Tomlinson, Group Chief Executive Officer of England Golf. 

The underlying aim behind this endeavor is to provide “young squad players” with the “opportunity to not only experience professional tournament golf, but also begin to acclimatise to life in the professional ranks”, as stated by Tomlinson.

The English Open has a rich history, and some big names in golf were highly successful at the event.

A Look At The English Open’s Champions Over the Years

Spanish legendary golfer Seve Ballesteros was the first champion of the English Open (then the English Classic) back in 1979. The Spaniard won by three strokes over England’s Neil Coles and South Africa’s Simon Hobday.

Englishmen Darren Clarke and Mark James are the only players to have won multiple titles. Both of them had their eras of dominance as Clarke won three titles in four years and James secured two titles back-to-back. 

Besides these two European Ryder Cup captains, Ian Woosnam in 1993 and Colin Montgomerie in 1994 were also victorious at this tournament.

Due to the joint efforts of the DP World Tour and England Golf, the sport will get back a historically rich tournament that has never failed to excite the fans.

What are your thoughts on the revival of the English Open? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote