The European Tour announced Monday the loss of "Rolex Series" status for the French Open (formerly sponsored by HNA) as well as a relocation of the event, which will now take place from October 17 to 20, 2019 instead. end of June - beginning of July as before. A blow to the oldest and most important golf tournament in continental Europe.

French Open: travel to October and loss of "Rolex Series" status

Photo: DR

The French Open is losing its importance. It's official: the tournament will no longer benefit from its “Rolex Series” status next year. In addition, it will no longer take place in June but from October 17 to 20.

Title sponsor since 2017 for a period of at least 3 years plus 2 years as an option, the Chinese tourism group HNA, accusing serious financial problems, failed the organizers several months ago. Alstom's replacement allowed the French Open, the oldest tournament in continental Europe, to join the eight “Rolex Series”, the newly created category bringing together the most prestigious competitions on the European circuit.

The European Tour did not wish to put to the pot in the absence of a new title sponsor and it is the Abu Dhabi Championship, in mid-January, which will take the place in 2019 of the French Open among the “Rolex”. Series ”.

As a result of this loss of status, the endowment of the event should drop from seven million dollars to less than three million euros as of next year, and the player base will be much less raised for an event contested at the very end. European season.

The French Open is played on the course of the Albatros du Golf National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, which hosted the Ryder Cup at the end of September, for the first time organized in France.

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