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

Rule changes

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

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

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

Schedule

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

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

Race to Dubai

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

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

Notes

  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

  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

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