Bulgaria and Russia make their debut, Turkey grows, while the Spanish dish weeps more and more: the 2013 European golf tour moves eastward, pushed by the winds of the economy and by sponsors in search of greener hills, those of dynamic and effervescent countries .
Spain, a country with a great golfing tradition, full of renowned courses suitable for hosting major events, is paying the highest price for the crisis. In 2011 seven tournaments of the European championship were held in the Pyrenees, but in 2012 the competitions dropped to three and this year Severiano Ballesteros' home country must enclose all his desire for golf in just one appointment, the most important: the Spanish Open, won in 2012 by our Francesco Molinari.
As we know, the world is made up of stairs and if someone goes down… There are two new entries: Russia and Bulgaria. Of the first and of the tournament that will be played from 25 to 28 July, little is known yet, while Bulgaria starts with a bang. The appointment is for May 16, on the Black Sea with the Volvo World Match Play at the Thracian Cliffs, a fantastic course overlooking the sea, a place currently unknown to most, but soon a dream destination for golfers from all over the world. An appointment to which the best 24 players will be invited, who will compete in direct comparisons for a prize pool of 3 million euros and a first coin of 800 dollars.
Of great prestige and above all very rich are also the three tournaments scheduled in China. It starts in May (from 2 to 5) and once again it is Volvo that signs the China Open at the Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin. Then there is the grand finale in Shanghai with two very rich appointments: the BMW Masters is staged on 24-27 October with a jackpot of 7 million euros (they were 5,331 million last year) and from 31 October to 3 November there is the WGC – HSBC Champions at Shesshan International Golf Club, with prize money of 8,5 million euros (5,374 million last year).
The Race to Dubai this year does not include two prestigious tournaments such as Hong Kong and Singapore (the latter won in 2012 by Matteo Manassero), but includes another country in great turmoil: Turkey. Last year, fans of the sport got a taste of the determination with which the Turks want to conquer market share in golf tourism, with a tournament reserved for the eight best players in the world, starting with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory. This year, lunch is complete and Turkey enters the European circuit with full rights with a sumptuous 7 million euro Open, from 7 to 10 November, at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal Belek in Antalya. This is not a flash in the pan: the agreement with the Tour is for three years and we will hear more about it.
Among the most prestigious events in 2013 we must mention the various tournaments in the Emirates, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, which field prizes totaling 15,7 million euros, with a significant increase given that they were around 12 million euros Last year. In the "golf championship", which began in December, South Africa is also growing, with 6 tournaments (4 in 2012) although not very rich. Scotland's weight also increases: 4 tournaments in 2013, including the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield from 18 to 21 July.
The Italian Open will take place again this year, from 19 to 22 September, again in Turin, where he moved from the Roveri club to La Mandria. At first it seemed that the Federation, to finance the event, was asking each member for 20 euros, but the event should instead be sponsored as it is every year. That's better.
