Monday 15 June 2020 16:48, UK
The European Tour season will resume earlier than anticipated after back-to-back events in Austria were confirmed for next month.
The Austrian Open will now take place a fortnight before the British Masters, from July 9-12 at the Diamond Country Club, while the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal will follow the week after.
Both events will be co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the European Challenge Tour, and will have total prize funds of 500,000 euros.
The European Tour, which has been dormant since the Qatar Masters in March, will then head to Close House for the start of a six-week UK Swing, with each tournament having €1m in the prize pot.
The Tour have not held a tournament in Austria since Mikko Korhonen won the inaugural Shot Clock Masters in 2018, but the event was pulled from the schedule last year.
Ben Cowen, the European Tour's deputy chief operating officer, said: "These two dual ranking events provide vital playing opportunities for our members following the enforced period of inactivity since March.
"We are therefore grateful to both Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal, as well as the Austrian Golf Federation, for their support and we look forward to visiting Austria ahead of the European Tour's full resumption with the Betfred British Masters at Close House the following week."
Challenge Tour head, James Hodges, added: "We are pleased to announce the resumption of the Challenge Tour season with the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club and the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, two dual ranking events which will take place in consecutive weeks in July.
"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.
"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."
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