The European Senior Tour will return to France for the first time since 2007 when Cannes Mougins hosts the Cannes Mougins Masters from October 9-11, 2010.
With a prize fund of €250,000 on offer, the inaugural tournament could play a decisive role in the Senior Tour Order of Merit, just a month before the season ending OKI Castellόn Senior Tour Championship.
It takes the number of events on the 2010 European Senior Tour Schedule that count towards the Order of Merit to 18 – three more than in 2009.
The Cannes Mougins Masters will be preceded by two Inter-Cliniques Pro-Ams at Cannes Mougins and Saint Donat on October 7 -8.
Senior Tour professionals will then play alongside an amateur partner at Cannes Mougins on Saturday October 9 and Sunday October 10, before professionals only contest the final round on Monday October 11.
Cannes Mougins previously hosted the Cannes Open on The European Tour from 1984 to 2001, with the roll call of champions including Senior Tour players David Frost (1984), John Bland (1986), Mark McNulty (1988 and 1990) and Ian Woosnam (1994).
The Senior Tour last visited France was three years ago when Juan Quiros captured the title at Divonne les Bains.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “We are delighted that the European Senior Tour will be returning to France for the inaugural Cannes Mougins Masters and I would like to thank our Promoter, Frédéric Dubois and Sante & Loisirs Golf Events for helping to make this event happen.
“Cannes Mougins has a tremendous history with The European Tour group with a number of our Senior Tour Members having played in the Cannes Open and I am sure they will all be looking to returning to the South of France and this fantastic venue on the Cote D'Azur.
“I would also like to acknowledge the valuable assistance of Senior Tour player Marc Farry in helping this tournament come to fruition.”
Frédéric Dubois, Chariman of promoters Sante & Loisirs Golf Events, said: “We are extremely pleased to organise in France a major event on the European Senior Tour and to have it hosted in Cannes Mougins the week following the next edition of The Ryder Cup.
“We will be honoured to welcome at the Cannes Mougins Masters, which will be coupled with the 15th edition of the Inter – Cliniques Pro-Am, legend such as Sam Torrance, Ian Woosnam, Costantino Rocca and Sandy Lyle, who all played in previous editions of the Cannes Open in the 80’s and 90’s.
“As a strong supporter of the candidature of France for hosting The Ryder Cup in 2018, we have great ambitions for the Cannes Mougins Masters. We are confident that thanks to the support of the Club of Sponsors and with the assistance of SWING and the members of Cannes Mougins, it will become a great tournament staged in France, playing a key role on the European Senior Tour.”
