Martin Dempster: Tour needs to put England back on the map

TWO things jumped out when the full 2012 European Tour schedule was released yesterday, one being a simple printing error that was soon rectified.

Thank goodness, too, as the Dunhill Links Championship will be a much more enjoyable event at its traditional homes of St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns than a venue “TBA” (to be announced) in “Malaysia”. Unfortunately for George O’Grady, the Tour’s chief executive, and his team, the other thing that caught this particular eye can’t be rectified so easily.

It’s the glaring absence of tournaments in England, the country where golf is riding high with Luke Donald and Lee Westwood sitting at Nos 1 and 2 in the world. Forget The Open Championship as it doesn’t count in that context. Which means, for the second year running, the only European Tour event, as things stand, set to be held inside English shores next year will be the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Ironically enough, the Tour’s flagship event this year produced a memorable battle between Donald and Westwood, which the players themselves loved and so, too, did the thousands of spectators who flock to the Surrey venue every year.

That’s the frustrating thing for the likes of Donald and Westwood. Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Justin Rose, too. They are desperate for more opportunities to showcase their talent on home soil and it really is sad that they are being deprived of that chance.