The Italian Open is a big winner and with Oman and the Philippines now joining the new season but also with a number of tournaments missing after the European Tour released the full 2017/2018 wraparound International schedule.

The Italian Open, and normally staged in past years at a later stage of the season including the 2017 event mid next month, will move to a prime May 31^st to June 3^rd date next year.

The Italian Open is one of eight ‘Rolex Series’ events, each with a purse of $US7m.

The European Tour will visit 30 different countries in 2018 including adding the Feb 15-18 NBO Oman Golf Classic at Muscat for a first time on the schedule.

The stunning Almouj Golf, Muscat, Oman and to host a European Tour event for a first time in 2018.

Also making its debut will be the March 15-18 Philippines Golf Championship at a venue to be decided while Belguim returns to the Tour to host the May 17-20 Belgian Knockout at Antwerp.

There also is the inaugural European Team Championship from August 8-12 at Gleneagles in Scotland.

The UAE will host the back-to-back Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship from Jan 18-21 and the following week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic from Jan 25 to 28.

However the Commerical Bank Qatar Masters has moved to Feb 22-25 and a week after the Oman tournament.

But missing from the new-season schedule is the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, the Rocco Forte Open won by Spain’s Alvaro Quiros earlier this year along with the Fiji International and the Paul Lawrie Match-Play Championship.

The 2018 season will start in Hong Kong later this year with the Nov 23- 26 UBS Hong Kong Open and end with the 10^th anniversary of the $US 8m DP World Tour Championship from November 15-18.

Keith Waters, the European Tour’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are delighted to be able to announce three new events as part of the 2018 European Tour schedule, providing vital playing opportunities for our members.

“It also combines diversity, visiting 30 different countries on the Race to Dubai, and innovation, through varied formats such as the new Belgian Knockout and GolfSixes alongside more traditional strokeplay events, including the eight Rolex Series tournaments.”