Senior dates announced

TWO Scottish stops, one of them at Turnberry for the £1.6 million Senior Open Championship, are included on the newly-announced 2012 European Senior Tour schedule.

The schedule consists of 15 events at present, but more should be announced in the near future as talks continue with potential backers for tournaments on the over-50s circuit.

“We are grateful to all of our promoters and sponsors for their valued support in these challenging economic times,” said Andy Stubbs, managing director of the European Senior Tour. “We also have a number of discussions nearing conclusion before adding further tournaments to the start and end of the 2012 schedule.”

The highlight of the fixture list is the return of the Senior Open to Turnberry’s Ailsa Course for a record seventh time from 26-29 July. The following month, on 17-19 August, Fairmont St Andrews will again stage the Scottish Seniors Open. It is still seeking a sponsor but will carry a prize fund of £250,000, the same pot up for grabs when Slaley Hall in Durham again hosts the PGA Seniors Championship in June.

In addition to the Wales Senior Open being restored – it will be held at Conwy in August – a new event, the Pon Senior Open in Germany, is added to the list.

“The schedule again reflects the global appeal of the Senior Tour and its members,” added Stubbs in reference to the fact it will also visit the Czech Republic, England, France, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Taiwan and Mauritius.