The European Tour is one of three golf tours co-ordinated by PGA European Tour, along with the European Seniors Tour and the Challenge Tour.

The European Tour is the primary golf tour in Europe and is second only to the United States-based PGA Tour in worldwide prestige.

Although originally established by the Professional Golfers Association in 1972, responsibility was transferred to an independent PGA European Tour organisation in 1984.

In its early years the season ran for six months from April to October and was based entirely in Europe, mainly in Great Britain and Ireland.

Over the next three decades the Tour gradually lengthened and globalised. The first event held outside Europe was the 1982 Tunisian Open.

Most events which are part of the European Tour are held in Europe, but in recent years an increasing number have been held in other parts of the world outside North America

Since 2000 the season has actually started late in the previous calendar year, but the seasons are still named by calendar year. All of the events up until late March take place outside Europe, with most of these being co-sanctioned with other tours.

The Europe-based events on the European Tour are nearly all played in Western Europe and the best known of them take place in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France and Spain.

While European Tour management may be all too aware of the fact that its American counterpart offers bigger prize pots and a little more glamour, the relationship between the two tours continues to improve.

In 1998 the European Tour added the three US Majors to its official schedule. The following year the three World Golf Championships events were also included.