FOUR of the biggest golf events on the European Tour - the Volvo PGA Championship, Benson and Hedges International, Toyota World Matchplay and Loch Lomond World Invitational - are to stay on BBC television for another four years at least.

Jonathan Martin, BBC TV head of sports and events, said that securing these events just after signing their new contract for the British Open "underlines BBCTV's continuing commitment to the game of golf. We are delighted these important PGA tournaments will be available to millions of viewers into the next century."

Martin added: "We would still like to transmit the Ryder Cup. We can't next year (the event is under contract to Sky again), but we would like to show highlights."

Asked whether he wished he had made a higher bid for the rights to the 1997 match at Valderrama he replied: "I don't think it would have affected the outcome."

Ken Schofield, the tour's executive director, confirmed that there is a possibility of the circuit going to Moscow for a Russian Open next year and that Poland were interested in staging a mini tour event. "The tour is moving east," he said.