The move will also see 10 rather than 15 golfers earn a share of the pool. Luke Donald secured £951,000 for topping the 2011 money list last month, but that reduces to £642,000 this season, with the bonus for finishing 10th cut from £190,000 to £64,000. However, the prize fund for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai from November 22-25 has been increased to £5.1 million from £4.7 million with the winner’s prize increasing by £51,000 to £844,000.

The European Tour in December ended speculation over the future of the Race to Dubai by reaching a new multi-faceted, three-year deal with the event’s organisers. There had been media speculation about the future of the event that was launched in 2009 amidst much publicity, but the new announcement means it will remain on the European Tour schedule.

The Race to Dubai will now run through to the end of 2014 with a new name and title sponsor for the event, which will now be known as the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. The refined bonus pool was announced on Thursday as the 2012 Race got underway with the Africa Open at East London Golf Club.

Keith Waters, chief operating officer and director of international policy of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to have everything in place for the new three-year phase of The Race to Dubai…in DP World and Nakheel we have two incredibly strong partners fully dedicated to the future success of The Race to Dubai and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.”