Friday 29 September 2017 11:39, UK
New tournaments in Belgium, Oman and the Philippines have been added to the European Tour schedule for the 2018 season.
The new campaign begins in Hong Kong on November 23, just four days after the 2017 season concludes at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, and 30 different countries will feature over the following 12 months.
The first of the eight Rolex Series events, which each have a bumper prize fund of at least $7m, will be the BMW PGA Championship at the European Tour headquarters at Wentworth in the last week of May, while the Italian Open will now be played the week after having moved from this year's October slot.
Oman's Almouj Golf Club has previously hosted the Road to Oman finale on the Challenge Tour, and it will now stage a full European Tour event from February 15-18, while Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters will host an innovative Belgian Knockout the week before Wentworth.
The quickfire GolfSixes, which proved a hit with players and fans at Centurion earlier this year, returns in 2018 along with the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth in February.
Another new event on the schedule will be the European Golf Team Championships, which will be held at 2014 Ryder Cup venue Gleneagles in August
For the 10th year in succession, the season will end at Jumeriah Golf Estates with the DP World Tour Championship welcoming the top 60 players in the Race to Dubai standings.
European Tour chief operating officer, Keith Waters, said: "We are delighted to be able to announce three new events as part of the 2018 European Tour schedule, providing vital playing opportunities for our members.
"It also combines diversity, visiting 30 different countries on the Race to Dubai, and innovation, through varied formats such as the new Belgian Knockout and GolfSixes alongside more traditional strokeplay events, including the eight Rolex Series tournaments."
