Kazakhstan Open to make European Tour debut in 2008

ALMATY, July 25 (Reuters) The Kazakhstan Open will debut on the European Tour next year, making it the first professional golf tournament in the oil-rich Central Asian country.

''Next year the tournament will be co-sanctioned by the Challenge and European Tours,'' tournament director Konstantin Lifanov told Reuters today.

''But staring from 2009, we will be part of the main European Tour with total prize money of over 2.76 million million.'' Held at the picturesque Nurtau golf course near the commercial capital Almaty, the Kazakhstan Open made its professional debut in 2005 as the richest event on the Challenge Tour with 250,000 euros in prize money, increasing each year.

This year's tournament will be held from September 20-23.

REUTERS BJR SSC1543