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New schedule announced on European Tour

The Paul Lawrie Match Play at Murcar Links has been added to the schedule © Getty Images

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The European Tour schedule will feature six new tournaments and seven new venues in a 47-tournament season in 2015.

New Race to Dubai events include the Thailand Classic from February 12 at Black Mountain in Hua Hin, the Hero Indian Open from February 19 at a venue to be decided, the Shenzhen International from April 16 and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Heritage Golf Course from May 7.

Also new to the schedule is the Paul Lawrie Match Play from July 30 at Murcar Links in Aberdeen and the return of the European Open after five years to be played from September 24 in Bad Griesbach, Germany.

Six events will be staged in South Africa in 2014 and four in Scotland, but only one in England and there will be no Wales Open.

However, there could be a possible return of the British Masters after a six year absence, in early October.

In a big change to the schedule, the European Masters has been moved from its traditional date in September to the week after the British Open and will be staged in Switzerland from July 23.

This new date for the Swiss event is seen as a move to entice both World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and World No. 2 Adam Scott to compete. McIlroy is an ambassador for the event sponsor, but the September date has always clashed with the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Play Off Series.

Scott has a house in the Swiss resort town of Crans Montana and has indicated he would probably add the event to his schedule now that it has been moved to July.

Also, the Hong Kong Open has been moved and will now be staged from Octocber 22, the week prior to the commencement of the Tour's Final Four Series.

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