Imperial Collection Russian Open

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The Imperial Collection Russian Open is currently the only golf tournament on the European Tour schedule which is played east of the former Iron Curtain. It was established in 1996 as a tournament on the second-tier Challenge Tour and was added to the European Tour schedule in 2003. From 2003 to 2005, it was an official money event on both tours.

The tournament is played near Moscow, the same week in August as the PGA Championship takes place in less lucrative events on the Tour. The 2005 prize fund of $500,000 was around a tenth of those of the leading events on the European Tour, even leaving aside the major championships and World Golf Championships. However, it is one of the richest tournaments of the season on the Challenge Tour. In 2006, the prize fund doubled to $1,000,000 and it became a European Tour-only event.