The Hong Kong Open will be played in early December next year after it was confirmed that it had lost its prized spot on the European Tour - the penultimate leg in the Race to Dubai.

European Tour officials confirmed yesterday that next year's Hong Kong Open would not figure on their 2013 schedule but would be back as one of the first tournaments on the 2014 calendar. "As the tournament is scheduled to be played after the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, which takes place next November, it will form part of the 2014 European Tour international schedule, and, therefore, will not appear in the 2013 schedule," said Keith Waters, chief operating officer for the European Tour.