THE European Tour has revealed that the British Masters will return to the schedule this year – and it could even head back to the region for the first time in more than 40 years in the not too distant future.

North-East Tour pros Graeme Storm, John Parry, Rob Dinwiddie, Simon Dyson and Chris Paisley will all be pursuing a place when it heads for Woburn Golf Club on October 8-11.

But Close House’s attached Tour player Lee Westwood – along with Ian Poulter, Luke Donald and Justin Rose – will take a turn to host the prestigious tournament, last played in 2008, and will help select the venue each year.

Poulter has decided to take the British Masters back to Woburn, although Worksop-born Westwood could clearly be tempted to take the competition to Close House on the outskirts of Newcastle.

Close House has an opportunity to experience the big occasion later this year when it hosts the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship on June 11-14. It is believed Close House has already shifted more than 7,000 tickets for the event.

The 6,813-yard par 71 Lee Westwood Colt course is widely renowned and provided there are no hiccups it could easily force its way in to the European Tour’s thinking for a mainstream event.

The British Masters is making a comeback after a seven year absence and increases the number of Race to Dubai events on British soil in 2015 to six.

It will be the 17th time that Woburn has hosted the event and the first since 2002.

Poulter has a long association with Woburn. He said: "It is fantastic news that the British Masters is back on the European Tour schedule and I am proud and delighted to be bringing the tournament to Woburn Golf Club, which is obviously a place that means a great deal to me.

"British golf has been in a good place for a number of years now with the success we have had internationally, and as players we have all been keen to get more tournaments on British soil, and in England in particular, so we are grateful to Sky Sports and The European Tour for helping to make this happen.

"As a young boy I dreamed of becoming a professional golfer, and being able to watch my heroes play the game inspired me to chase these dreams. I am now passionate myself about encouraging young people to try to enjoy this game that I love so much, and I'm looking forward to working closely with Sky Sports and The European Tour on staging the British Masters at Woburn and making it an event that truly inspires young people.

"I know Woburn is going to be a great venue for a European Tour event having hosted the British Masters previously, and I'm sure the fans will come out and really support the event again.

"The British Masters was always one of our leading events and I have some great memories of my battle with Justin at Woburn back in 2002. He's obviously a good friend of mine and a great competitor, so it was a pleasure to go up against him at my home course. Hopefully I can put my local knowledge to good use once more and be up there challenging again this year."

It was back in 2002 at Woburn when Poulter and Rose battled it out for the title, with the latter winning by a shot after a closing 65. This year's event will be staged on the Marquess course and have a prize fund of £3m.

In 1975 the British Masters was won by Bernard Gallacher at Ganton, near Scarborough, and three years before that Aussie Bob Charles won the title at the Northumberland Golf Club.