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One of Europe’s most venerable tournaments returns to the tour schedule in 2018 after a one-year hiatus. The European Tour has officially confirmed that the Open de Espa\u00f1a will be held from 12 to 15 April at the Centro Nacional de Golf<\/a> (home of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation), and also announced that this year’s Andaluc\u00eda-Costa del Sol Match Play 9 (17-20 May) on the Challenge Tour will be hosted by Valle Romano on the Costa del Sol (Estepona). <\/p>\n This means that the main European Tour<\/a> will have two events in Spain this year (also the Andaluc\u00eda Valderrama Masters from 18 to 21 October), as well as the first edition of the Costa Blanca Benidorm Senior Masters from 29 November to 1 December (plus the Challenge Tour event – which was held at La Cala Resort in 2017).<\/p>\n The Ladies European Tour has announced its “target” of having 20 events this season but still hasn’t confirmed dates or venues beyond the current co-sanctioned Australian swing, followed by South Africa and Morocco in March and April. The expectation is that one of those 20 will be the Spanish Women’s Open, which has been held in Marbella the past two seasons, and won on both occasions by local star Azahara Mu\u00f1oz. <\/p>\n On the LET Access Series (the tour’s second-tier circuit) the Ribeira Sacra World Heritage International Ladies Open returns to Augas Santas Balneario & Golf Resort (Galicia) from 4 to 6 July.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Spanish Open<\/strong><\/p>\n The 2018 event will be the 91st playing of the Open de Espa\u00f1a, with the \u20ac1.5 million tournament fulfilling a pledge that European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley made during a visit to Spain’s capital last year when he promised the event would return to the European Tour in 2018.<\/p>\n “I am delighted to announce the return of the Open de Espa\u00f1a to our schedule,” he said. “The roll call of champions reads like a who’s who of the game itself and we look forward very much to seeing who will add their name to that illustrious list in a couple of months’ time. <\/p>\n “Our game thrives on prestigious national championships such as the Open de Espa\u00f1a and we thank everyone at the Royal Spanish Golf Federation<\/a> and the Madrid Golf Federation<\/a> for helping us make this happen.”<\/p>\n First contested played in 1912, the Open de Espa\u00f1a was also the first tournament played in the European Tour’s inaugural season in 1972, with Antonio Garrido crowned as champion. Several Spanish greats followed, including Seve Ballesteros with three victories, Sergio Garc\u00eda, \u00c1lvaro Quir\u00f3s and Miguel \u00c1ngel Jim\u00e9nez. <\/p>\n Also victorious in the championship have been major champions Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Arnold Palmer and Charl Schwartzel, as well as European number ones Robert Karlsson and Colin Montgomerie. Schwartzel’s victory, in 2007, came at the Centro Nacional de Golf itself, four years before he won the Masters at Augusta National. <\/p>\n Gonzaga Escauriaza, president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, said, “The Open de Espa\u00f1a is back on the European Tour International Schedule, which is great news for Spanish golf, and we are doubly delighted to be welcoming it back to our home at the Centro Nacional de Golf.<\/p>\n “Our country has always held a relevant position in Europe, not only for being one of the main tourist destinations but also because of the outstanding performances of the Spanish golfers, both professionals and amateurs. Therefore, Spain deserves its Open and I am convinced that our professionals will support the event with their presence. I would like to thank Keith Pelley and all who have contributed to make it happen.”<\/p>\n Ignacio Guerras, president of the Madrid Golf Federation, said, “The Open de Espa\u00f1a is set to return to its origins. In total, 43 of its 91 editions will have taken place in Madrid, one of the great cities in Europe, and also host to the first 17 editions of the tournament. Throughout history, Madrilenian golf courses have attracted the greats of the game, many of them having been drawn by the prestigious course designers including Jack Nicklaus, Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Olaz\u00e1bal, Robert von Hagge and Javier Arana, the man responsible for the Centro Nacional de Golf layout.”<\/p>\n Apart from the 2007 Open de Espa\u00f1a, the Centro Nacional de Golf has also hosted the 2009 Madrid Masters on the European Tour, won by Englishman Ross McGowan; and the 2006 Challenge de Espa\u00f1a on the European Challenge Tour, won by Frenchman Adrien M\u00f6rk.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n European Challenge Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n Estepona will host the second edition of the innovative Andaluc\u00eda-Costa del Sol Match Play 9, won last year by England’s Aaron Rai. The format comprises 36 holes of stroke play with the top 64 players making it through to the weekend – where they will compete in a series of nine-hole match play battles for a \u20ac200,000 prize fund. <\/p>\n Valle Romano Golf features signature holes named after famous Spanish players – hole two after Jos\u00e9 Maria Olaz\u00e1bal, hole five after Miguel \u00c1ngel Jim\u00e9nez and the ninth the “Seve Ballesteros hole”. The Cabell B. Robinson-designed course, which hosted the second stage of Qualifying School in 2013, has a challenging parkland layout which measures 6,975 yards and is known for its fast greens. <\/p>\n The Andaluc\u00eda Costa del Sol Match Play 9, the only match play event on the 2018 Challenge Tour schedule, is one of two Spanish tournaments which will take place this season and will be played two weeks after the Challenge de Espa\u00f1a at Izki Golf in \u00c1lava (Basque Country).<\/p>\n Alain de Soultrait, European Challenge Tour director, said, “We are delighted to confirm that the Andaluc\u00eda Costa del Sol Match Play 9 will take place at the beautiful Valle Romano Golf. <\/p>\n “Last year’s match play format proved very popular among players and fans alike, and we are thrilled that we have kept this exciting format for this year’s event. The golf course is in excellent condition with incredibly fast greens, which I am sure will provide the perfect setting for the nine-hole match play contests. <\/p>\n