European Tour rebrands as DP World Tour amid major changes

The European Tour announced on Tuesday it would mark its 50th anniversary next year with a raft of changes including rebranding as the DP World Tour.

The 2022 season will also see the circuit co-sanction three events with the PGA Tour as part of golf’s two major tours’ “strategic alliance”.

All tournaments solely sanctioned by the World Tour will offer prize money of at least $2 million and see the year’s total prize money break $200 million for the first time.

“Today’s announcement is undoubtedly a momentous one in the proud history of our Tour,” said European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley.

“The launch of the DP World Tour in 2022, coinciding with both of our 50th anniversaries, will herald a new era in global golf.”

Next season will see at least 47 tournaments in 27 different countries, including new events in Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium and South Africa.

The lucrative Rolex Series has been expanded from four events to five.

The three tournaments co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour will be the Scottish Open and the Barbasol and Barracuda Championships in the United States.

The announcement follows the news last month that Greg Norman — with financial backing from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF — would team up with the Asian Tour to launch 10 new events.