2019 European Tour

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2019 European Tour season
Duration22 November 2018 (2018-11-22) – 24 November 2019 (2019-11-24)
Number of official events46
Most winsSpain Jon Rahm (3)
Austria Bernd Wiesberger (3)
Race to DubaiSpain Jon Rahm
Golfer of the YearSpain Jon Rahm
Players' Player of the YearSpain Jon Rahm
Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the YearScotland Robert MacIntyre
Graduate of the YearScotland Robert MacIntyre
2018
2020

The 2019 European Tour was the 48th season of the European Tour, the main professional golf tour in Europe since its inaugural season in 1972.

Changes for 2019[edit]

Rule changes[edit]

From January 1, 2019 onwards, tournaments followed the new rules released by the USGA and The R&A which were designed to simplify the rule book and speed up the pace of play. The most noticeable changes included golfers being able to putt on the green with the flag remaining in, and drops being made from knee rather than shoulder height.[1]

Scheduling changes[edit]

As announced in 2017, the US PGA Championship was moved from August to May, starting in 2019. The PGA of America cited the addition of golf to the Summer Olympics, as well as cooler weather enabling a wider array of options for host courses, as reasoning for the change. It was also believed that the PGA Tour wished to re-align its season so that its FedEx Cup Playoffs would not have to compete with the start of the NFL season in early September, since both United States broadcast partners (CBS and NBC) are NFL broadcast partners.

Consequently, the European Tour moved the flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, from the congested May date to late September, four weeks after the end of the 2019 PGA Tour season. It was hoped the date would attract more top names.[2][3][4][5][6]

Changes to the Race to Dubai[edit]

The number of Race to Dubai points available in the Final Series (last three events of the season) was increased, and the field size reduced. The aim was to make more players still have a chance of winning the Race to Dubai entering the Final Series. In addition, although the prize money was not increased, the bonus pool of US$5,000,000 would now be split among the top five players rather than the top ten. The money saved from restricting field sizes was used solely to increase the first prizes, which means that the tournaments would not have the standard prize fund distribution, and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai would have the largest tournament first prize in golf of US$3,000,000.[7]

Tournament changes[edit]

Schedule[edit]

The following table lists official events during the 2019 season.[8]

Date Tournament Host country Purse R2D
points
Winner[a] OWGR
points
Other
tours[b]
Notes
25 Nov Honma Hong Kong Open Hong Kong US$2,000,000 2,750 England Aaron Rai (1) 30 ASA
2 Dec Australian PGA Championship Australia A$1,500,000 2,000 Australia Cameron Smith (n/a) 20 ANZ
2 Dec AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open Mauritius €1,000,000 2,000 United States Kurt Kitayama (1) 17 AFR, ASA
9 Dec South African Open South Africa R17,500,000 2,000 South Africa Louis Oosthuizen (9) 32 AFR,[c] ASA
16 Dec Alfred Dunhill Championship South Africa €1,500,000 2,750 United States David Lipsky (2) 23 AFR
19 Jan Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship UAE US$7,000,000 7,000 Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry (4) 48 Rolex Series
27 Jan Omega Dubai Desert Classic UAE US$3,250,000 4,250 United States Bryson DeChambeau (1) 46
3 Feb Saudi International Saudi Arabia US$3,500,000 4,250 United States Dustin Johnson (n/a) 48 New tournament
10 Feb ISPS Handa Vic Open Australia A$1,500,000 2,000 Scotland David Law (1) 20 ANZ New to European Tour
17 Feb ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth Australia A$1,600,000 2,000 New Zealand Ryan Fox (1) 20 ANZ, ASA
24 Feb WGC-Mexico Championship Mexico US$10,250,000 9,000 United States Dustin Johnson (n/a) 72 World Golf Championship
3 Mar Oman Open Oman US$1,750,000 2,750 United States Kurt Kitayama (2) 24
10 Mar Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Qatar US$1,750,000 2,750 South Africa Justin Harding (1) 24
17 Mar Magical Kenya Open Kenya €1,100,000 2,000 Italy Guido Migliozzi (1) 24 New to European Tour
24 Mar Maybank Championship Malaysia US$3,000,000 3,500 Australia Scott Hend (3) 24 ASA
31 Mar WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play United States US$10,250,000 9,000 United States Kevin Kisner (1) 76 World Golf Championship
31 Mar Hero Indian Open India US$1,750,000 2,750 Scotland Stephen Gallacher (4) 19 ASA
14 Apr Masters Tournament United States US$11,000,000 10,000 United States Tiger Woods (n/a) 100 Major championship
28 Apr Trophée Hassan II Morocco €2,500,000 3,500 Spain Jorge Campillo (1) 24
5 May Volvo China Open China CN¥20,000,000 3,500 Finland Mikko Korhonen (2) 24 ASA
12 May Betfred British Masters England £3,000,000 4,250 Sweden Marcus Kinhult (1) 26
19 May PGA Championship United States US$11,000,000 10,000 United States Brooks Koepka (5) 100 Major championship
26 May Made in Denmark Denmark €3,000,000 4,250 Austria Bernd Wiesberger (5) 24
2 Jun Belgian Knockout Belgium €1,000,000 2,000 Italy Guido Migliozzi (2) 24
16 Jun U.S. Open United States US$12,500,000 10,000 United States Gary Woodland (n/a) 100 Major championship
23 Jun BMW International Open Germany €2,000,000 2,750 Italy Andrea Pavan (2) 26
30 Jun Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters Spain €3,000,000 4,250 South Africa Christiaan Bezuidenhout (1) 24
7 Jul Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Ireland US$7,000,000 7,000 Spain Jon Rahm (4) 42 Rolex Series
14 Jul Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open Scotland US$7,000,000 7,000 Austria Bernd Wiesberger (6) 48 Rolex Series
21 Jul The Open Championship Northern Ireland US$10,750,000 10,000 Republic of Ireland Shane Lowry (5) 100 Major championship
28 Jul WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational United States US$10,250,000 9,000 United States Brooks Koepka (6) 72 World Golf Championship
18 Aug D+D Real Czech Masters Czech Republic €1,000,000 2,000 Belgium Thomas Pieters (4) 24
25 Aug Scandinavian Invitation Sweden €1,500,000 2,750 South Africa Erik van Rooyen (1) 24
1 Sep Omega European Masters Switzerland €2,500,000 3,500 Sweden Sebastian Söderberg (1) 38
8 Sep Porsche European Open Germany €2,000,000 2,750 England Paul Casey (14) 26
15 Sep KLM Open Netherlands €2,000,000 2,750 Spain Sergio García (16) 24
22 Sep BMW PGA Championship England US$7,000,000 7,000 England Danny Willett (7) 64 Flagship event[d]
29 Sep Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Scotland US$5,000,000 5,500 France Victor Perez (1) 50 Pro-Am
6 Oct Mutuactivos Open de España Spain €1,500,000 2,750 Spain Jon Rahm (5) 24
13 Oct Italian Open Italy US$7,000,000 7,000 Austria Bernd Wiesberger (7) 44 Rolex Series
20 Oct Amundi Open de France France €1,600,000 2,750 Belgium Nicolas Colsaerts (3) 24
27 Oct Portugal Masters Portugal €1,500,000 2,750 England Steven Brown (1) 24
3 Nov WGC-HSBC Champions China US$10,250,000 9,000 Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy (14) 60 World Golf Championship
10 Nov Turkish Airlines Open Turkey US$7,000,000 9,000 England Tyrrell Hatton (4) 42 Rolex Series
Limited-field event
17 Nov Nedbank Golf Challenge South Africa US$7,500,000 10,000 England Tommy Fleetwood (5) 36 AFR Rolex Series
Limited-field event
24 Nov DP World Tour Championship, Dubai UAE US$8,000,000 12,000 Spain Jon Rahm (6) 52 Tour Championship[d]

Unofficial events[edit]

The following events were sanctioned by the European Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.

Date Tournament Host country Purse Winners OWGR
points
Notes
8 Jun GolfSixes Cascais Portugal €1,000,000 Thailand Thongchai Jaidee and
Thailand Phachara Khongwatmai
n/a Team event

Location of tournaments[edit]

Race to Dubai[edit]

The Race to Dubai was based on tournament results during the season, calculated using a points-based system.[9][10]

Pos. Player Majors WGCs Rolex Series Top 10s in other ET events Total
pts
Tmts Money
Mas PGA USO Opn WGC
Mex
WGC
MP
WGC
Inv
WGC
Cha
Abu Ire Sco BMW
PGA
Ita Tur Ned DPW
TC
1 2 3 4 5 Reg.
(€m)
Bon.
($m)
1 Spain Rahm T9
202
CUT
0
T3
475
T11
163
T45
49
T24
79
7th
270
1st
1165
2nd
780
1st
2000
T2
256
1st
460
5,898 13 6.2 2.0
2 England Fleetwood T36
73
T48
47
T65
25
2nd
1113
T19
104
T24
78
T4
382
T53
35
T42
41
T23
75
T60
20
1st
1665
2nd
1335
T8
81
T8
75
T5
170
5,415 18 5.2 1.2
3 Austria Wiesberger 76th
17
T32
76
T49
42
T42
41
T2
609
1st
1165
T17
89
1st
1165
49th
45
T3
517
T28
104
1st
710
8th
50
5th
116
4,906 29 4.0 0.7
4 Republic of Ireland Lowry CUT
0
T8
198
T28
94
1st
1665
T62
24
T24
79
T43
54
1st
1165
T34
52
T11
120
CUT
0
62nd
24
T12
200
3,614 14 3.6 0.6
5 England Fitzpatrick T21
107
T41
60
T12
162
T20
107
T19
82
T24
25
T4
382
7th
270
T14
97
T46
36
2nd
780
T10
185
9th
267
2nd
305
2nd
305
2nd
305
3,588 20 2.8 0.5
6 Northern Ireland McIlroy[e] T21
107
T8
198
T9
202
CUT
0
2nd
1000
T9
155
T4
382
1st
1500
T34
50
T9
148
4th
600
T2
233
3,364 13 3.1
7 England Wallace CUT
0
T3
517
T12
162
T51
41
T33
72
T40
48
T27
76
T60
25
T16
89
T55
24
T14
96
T41
43
T7
180
50th
41
T44
57
T28
104
2nd
472
T2
317
T3
105
3rd
172
T8
55
2,851 27 2.4
8 South Africa Oosthuizen T29
90
T60
28
T7
275
T20
106
T25
93
T5
298
T20
104
3rd
565
4th
350
T46
37
T6
325
T20
131
1st
335
T7
76
2,814 14 2.3
9 England Hatton T56
41
T48
47
T21
111
T6
281
T19
104
T9
155
T43
52
T14
143
CUT
0
CUT
0
T14
97
CUT
0
T18
83
1st
1500
46th
67
2,799 18 2.9
10 South Africa van Rooyen T8
198
T43
61
T20
107
T36
67
T38
61
T32
53
CUT
0
T14
97
T14
103
T10
122
T2
542
T30
80
T28
104
T2
122
T6
77
T2
261
T5
62
1st
460
2,766 29 2.0
  Win
  Top 10
  Made cut
  Missed cut
 Did not play

Awards[edit]

Award Winner Ref.
Golfer of the Year Spain Jon Rahm [11]
Players' Player of the Year (Seve Ballesteros Award) Spain Jon Rahm [12]
Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Scotland Robert MacIntyre [13]
Graduate of the Year Scotland Robert MacIntyre [14]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The number in brackets after each winner's name is the number of European Tour events they had won up to and including that tournament. This information is only shown for European Tour members.
  2. ^ AFR − Sunshine Tour; ANZ − PGA Tour of Australasia; ASA − Asian Tour.
  3. ^ Sunshine Tour flagship event
  4. ^ a b Also a Rolex Series tournament.
  5. ^ McIlroy was not a European Tour member during the WGC-Mexico Championship, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and the Masters Tournament. Points he earned in these events did not count towards his Race to Dubai ranking.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Herrington, Ryan (3 December 2018). "Nine changes in the new Rules of Golf you absolutely need to know for 2019". Golf Digest. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  2. ^ Harig, Bob (10 August 2017). "PGA Championship to move from August date to May in 2019". ESPN. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  3. ^ Shedloski, Dave (7 August 2017). "The PGA Championship is moving to May and players are on board". Golf Digest. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  4. ^ "P.G.A. Championship Will Move from August to May in 2019". The New York Times. Reuters. 8 August 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  5. ^ Herrington, Ryan (7 August 2017). "The PGA Championship will be moving to May, sources say". Golf Digest. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  6. ^ Gray, Will (29 October 2018). "Lots of change to 2019 European Tour schedule". Golf Channel. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  7. ^ "End of season changes". European Tour. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  8. ^ "2019 Tournament schedule". European Tour. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  9. ^ "2019 Race To Dubai". European Tour. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  10. ^ Sinnott, John (24 November 2019). "Spaniard John Rahm wins Race to Dubai title to pocket $5 million". CNN. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Rahm named 2019 Hilton European Tour Golfer of the Year". European Tour. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Rahm receives 2019 Seve Ballesteros Award". European Tour. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  13. ^ Hughes, Joe (24 November 2019). "MacIntyre seals Rookie of the Year title". National Club Golfer. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Rookie of the Year MacIntyre credits Challenge Tour influence". European Tour. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2023. Robert MacIntyre paid tribute to the European Challenge Tour after finishing his debut European Tour season in 11th place on the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex, earning the Scot the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award and the Challenge Tour Graduate of the Year Award.

External links[edit]