The British Masters faces an uncertain future as the European Tour struggles to find a title sponsor.

The £3million event, being staged this week at Walton Heath, is supported by Sky Sports but the four-year deal with the broadcaster comes to an end this year.

The tournament only returned to the European Tour in 2015 after a six-year absence, with a quartet of Britain’s top players acting as its hosts.

Ian Poulter was the first to perform the role at his home club of Woburn and was followed by Luke Donald (The Grove), Lee Westwood (Close House) and Justin Rose (Walton Heath).

Rose is one of four members of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team playing this week, with Tommy Fleetwood, Francesco Molinari and Thorbjorn Olesen playing in the same group for the first two rounds.

European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley told the Daily Mail: “I’m disappointed we’ve been unable to find a title sponsor for next year given all the event has going for it.”

It is understood the tournament could take a hiatus next year and return in 2020, with the 2019 schedule complicated by the US PGA Championship moving to May and the BMW PGA Championship consequently switching from May to September, which also sees the Solheim Cup staged at Gleneagles.