The European Challenge Tour will resume its 2020 season with back-to-back events in Austria next month.
The Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club, from July 9-12, will mark the return of the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca after a five-month pause following the global outbreak of Covid-19. It will be followed by the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, which remains in its original slot on the calendar but now begins a day earlier, taking place from Wednesday, July 15 to Saturday ,July 18.
Both tournaments will have prize funds of €500,000 and will be dual-ranking events with the European Tour, which fully resumes its 2020 season with the Betfred British Masters Hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House from July 22-25.
It will be the third consecutive year the Euram Bank Open has been part of the Challenge Tour schedule, with Darius van Driel of the Netherlands and Calum Hill of Scotland winning in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
“Our measured approach to the 2020 season has mirrored that of the European Tour and we have been informed each step of the way by our medical health strategy, led by our chief medical officer Dr Andrew Murray, aligned to individual government safety advice,” said Jamie Hodges, head of the Challenge Tour.
“Part of this strategy is to play, wherever possible, in clusters in one territory and we are therefore grateful to the Austrian Golf Federation and the two venues, Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal for their support in making these events happen.
“We will continue to be guided by the European Tour’s Medical Health Strategy and we will announce details of subsequent 2020 Challenge Tour events in due course.”
Dr Peter Enzinger, president of the Austrian Golf Federation, added: “Especially in these unprecedented times, it is a great sign and a well-earned accomplishment for golf in Austria, that the European Tour and Challenge Tour will restart their seasons after this enforced break with two events on Austrian soil.
“With so much time pressure it was not easy to accomplish, but the co-operation with the European Tour and the Austrian Ministry of Sports during this preparation process has been outstanding and successful.”
