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Former World No.1 George Groves went on to win the 2019 EDGA Dubai Finale before the initiative was paused in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

By Kent Gray
After a year-long hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jumeriah Golf Estates will again host the finale of the EDGA European Tour season on the sidelines of the 2021 Race to Dubai decider in November.

In conjunction with the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA), the European Tour has announced a five-event 2021 season as part of its drive for inclusivity in golf.

It includes four new events in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England before the Dubai finale which will be held on the Friday and Saturday of the DP World Tour Championship at JGE on November 19-20.

As part of Golf For Good, the European Tour’s overarching Corporate Social Responsibility programme, 20 golfers taken from the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) as of May 16, 2021, will have the opportunity to tackle the same course set-up as the European Tour professionals, with the new 36-hole tournaments taking place over the weekends of successive events in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England.

Each player will be invited to participate in two back-to-back tournaments – 10 players with even-numbered rankings will tee it up at the EDGA Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort from July 24-25, and the ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational presented by Brendan Lawlor from July 31 – August 1 hosted at Massereene (Saturday) and Galgorm Castle (Sunday).

The 10 players with an odd-numbered ranking will then participate at the EDGA Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews from August 7-8, and the EDGA English Open at London Golf Club from August 14-15.

The top four players from each group of two tournaments qualify for the returning EDGA Dubai Finale.

Scoring for all five EDGA tournaments will feature on the European Tour’s website and App for fans to follow, while the tournament world feed broadcast will also feature updates across the weekend, with the winners also part of the main prize-giving ceremonies.

The Golfers with Disability initiative was launched at the 2019 Betfred British Masters at Hillside Golf Club and the inaugural 2019 EDGA Scottish Open was won by Lawlor at The Renaissance Club, held during the week of the 2019 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open.

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Brendan Lawlor will host the ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational.

“We are extremely proud to showcase the EDGA European Tour at five of our events in 2021 and we are delighted to once again provide golfers with disability the opportunity to play alongside our professionals during the UK Swing as well as at our final Rolex Series event of the year, the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai,” said European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley.

“We are recognised as golf’s global Tour and our core values of inclusivity and innovation are at the heart of these tournaments. As part of our wider Golf For Good campaign, we want to illustrate once again the unique benefits our sport offers to everyone who plays the game.”

EDGA President Tony Bennett, added: “The vision of EDGA and the European Tour is that golf is a game for everyone, and we are delighted the EDGA European Tour is back in 2021, once again providing an incredible opportunity to showcase golfers with a disability to people around the world.

“The players competing recognise they represent thousands of players with a wide range of impairments, many of whom are talented players in their own right, and I would like to thank the five tournaments hosting our EDGA events, along with the European Tour for delivering these outstanding tournaments.”

EDGA European Tour Schedule
EDGA Wales Open – The Celtic Manor Resort (July 24-25)
ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational presented by Brendan Lawlor – Massereene and Galgorm Castle (July 31 – August 1)
EDGA Hero Open – Fairmont St Andrews (August 7-8)
EDGA English Open – London Golf Club (August 14-15)
EDGA Dubai Finale – Jumeirah Golf Estates (November 19-20)