The organisers of the European Tour have announced plans to offer skin cancer screening to all players, staff and sponsors for the next three years.
Following a successful trial of the scheme in 2007, the Tour will work in partnership with cancer prevention specialist Screen4Life to help golfers avoid the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to the sun.
Screening will also be offered on the European Challenge Tour and Seniors Tour, Golf Business News reports.
"The facts are that there will be over 100,000 new cases of skin cancer in the UK and Ireland this year and early detection through screening greatly improves survival chances," said Screen4Life managing director Timothy Dodd.
"American sources estimate that 250,000 golfers worldwide get skin cancer each year," he added.
The screening programme will begin with the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth later this month.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and cases are expected to double in the next ten to 20 years, according to Screen4Life.
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