1985 European Tour

The season was made up of 26 tournaments counting for the Order of Merit, and some non-counting "Approved Special Events".{{cite news |last=Platts |first=Mitchell |title=A news world opens for European tour |newspaper=The Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=22 November 1984 |page=28 |via=The Times Digital Archive |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/YODBHZ270854649/TTDA?u=bli_ttda&sid=TTDA&xid=c0f4d847 |access-date=8 June 2020 |url-access=limited}}{{cite news |last=Davies |first=David |title=Pro tour offers £4m |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London, United Kingdom |date=22 November 1984 |page=27 |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259735988/ |access-date=7 June 2020 |url-access=subscription}}

There were several changes from the previous season, with the GSI L'Equipe Open replacing the Timex Open; the return of the British Masters{{cite news |last=Davies |first=David |title=Masters comes to Woburn |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London, United Kingdom |date=31 July 1984 |page=23 |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259652193/ |access-date=8 June 2020 |url-access=subscription}} and the Bob Hope Classic, which was rebranded as the Four Stars National Pro-Celebrity; and the loss of the Tournament Players Championship and the Celtic International.

In addition, the Dunhill Cup, a new team event devised by Mark McCormack and held over the Old Course at St Andrews, was added to the schedule but did not count towards the Order of Merit; with a prize fund of {{currency|1.2 million|USD}} it was the richest tournament in the world, surpassing the Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge in South Africa.{{cite news |last1=Platts |first1=Mitchell |first2=John |last2=Ballantine |title=St Andrews to be host of first £1 million event |newspaper=The Times |location=London, United Kingdom |date=22 January 1985 |page=25 |via=The Times Digital Archive |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS419663926/TTDA?u=bli_ttda&sid=TTDA&xid=941cb302 |access-date=8 June 2020 |url-access=limited}}

In 1985, the European Tour became "All-Exempt", meaning that for the first time tournaments did not have their own pre-qualifying rounds.{{cite news |first=Raymond |last=Jacobs |title=Satellite tour takes off |newspaper=The Glasgow Herald |location=Glasgow, United Kingdom |date=26 July 1984 |page=15 |via=Google News Archive |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0f89AAAAIBAJ&sjid=fUkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4012%2C4567475 |access-date=7 June 2020}} The final two rounds of all major tournaments were played as two-balls, having previously been three-balls.{{cite news |title=Sport in brief {{!}} Golf |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London, United Kingdom |date=12 April 1985 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259735988/ |access-date=7 June 2020 |url-access=subscription}}

In April, it was announced that Epson would take over the title sponsorship of the Order of Merit from Sperry Corporation, being renamed as the Epson Order of Merit.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260131719/ |title=Match play gap filled |newspaper=The Guardian |first=David |last=Davies |location=London, United Kingdom |page=25 |date=24 April 1985 |access-date=21 October 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}

The following table lists official events during the 1985 season.{{cite web |title=1985 Tournament schedule |url=https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/schedule/1985/ |publisher=European Tour |access-date=20 October 2023}}

The following events were sanctioned by the European Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.

The Order of Merit was titled as the Epson Order of Merit and was based on prize money won during the season, calculated in Pound sterling.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/942051068/ |title=Aces high |newspaper=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |location=Huddersfield, United Kingdom |page=25 |date=9 November 1985 |access-date=21 October 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}

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{{European Tour Seasons}}

Category:European Tour seasons

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