The 2006 European Tour International Schedule will begin in Shanghai, China, on November 10, 2005, and will comprise five tournaments – three in China and two in South Africa - before the end of the calendar year.
The new $5 million HSBC Champions tournament at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Sunshine Tour, will set the ball rolling from November 10-13.
The Volvo China Open at Shenzhen Golf Club in China, with a prize fund of $1.3 million, becomes the second event of the season from November 24-27 followed by the first of a new four year agreement with UBS to title sponsor the $1.2 million UBS Hong Kong Open at Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, from December 1-4.
After that, the Tour moves continents to Southern Africa for back-to-back weeks jointly sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour. The dunhill championship takes place at Leopard Creek, Mpumalanga, from December 8-11 and the South African Airways Open at Fancourt Golf Club from December 15-18. Prize funds for both those events have yet to be confirmed.
EARLY SEASON EVENTS IN THE 2006 EUROPEAN TOUR INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE
10 – 13 Nov HSBC Champions Tournament
2005 Sheshan International GC, Shanghai, China
Prize fund: US $5m
Sanctioned by European, Asian, Australasian and Southern African Tours
24 – 27 Nov Volvo China Open
Shenzhen GC, China
US $1.3m
01 – 04 Dec UBS Hong Kong Open
Hong Kong GC, Fanling, Hong Kong
US $1.2m
08 – 11 Dec dunhill championship
Leopard Creek, Mpumalanga, South Africa
To be confirmed.
15 – 18 Dec South African Airways Open
Fancourt GC, South Africa
To be confirmed.
