French Open returns to European Tour after Covid-19 postponed

Le Golf National first hosted the event in 1991

The French Open returns to the European Tour calendar and will take place at Le Golf National from May 6-9.

Continental Europe's oldest national Open, first played in 1906, was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will be the fourth event in a five-week run on European soil between the first two majors of 2021, the Masters in April and the US PGA Championship in May.

Frenchman Gregory Havret will be the first tournament host of the event.

The tournament will have a prize pool of 1.5 million euros (£ 1.3 million) and will be played for the 19th consecutive occasion at Le Golf National, the nearby venue from Paris where the 2018 Ryder Cup took place when Europe defeated the United States by 17½ – 10½.

Previous big winners of the event included Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Greg Norman and Jose Maria Olazabal.

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts is the title defender who triumphed with one stroke in October 2019.

European Tour chief Executive Keith Pelley said: “The Open de France is one of our most historic tournaments and Le Golf National is one of the leading venues in Europe, so we're excited to can confirm that both will be part of our program this year.

“The tournament is not only part of a travel-friendly run in Europe at that time of year, it also helps us to celebrate the wonderful heritage of the national Opens on the European Tour. . "