The International Sports Promotion Society, ISPS, announced today it will become the title sponsor of the inaugural Perth International which will see the event rebranded as the ISPS HANDA Perth International.
The ISPS HANDA Perth International will be played this year at the magnificent Lake Karrinyup Country Club from October 18-21. It is the richest tournament in Australia and the only event in the country to be co-sanctioned between the PGA Tour of Australasia and The European Tour.
The field will comprise 156 players headlined by World Number Nine Jason Dufner and 2011 Masters Champion, Charl Schwartzel.
Midori Miyazaki, ISPS Executive Director of International Affairs, said: "ISPS is delighted to become title sponsor of this exciting new major event. Perth is a wonderful, vibrant city and as the second home of our Chairman, Dr Haruhisa Handa, who has received the keys to the City of Perth and the City of Swan for his significant philanthropic endeavours, it is a very fitting partnership."
"ISPS has a long history of supporting golf around the globe and are committed to raising the profile of blind and disabled golf throughout the world. Dr Handa established the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) in 1998 and through ISPS recently initiated the ISPS HANDA PGA Academy Programme in the UK.
"In 2012 this programme will deliver over 1000 lessons from PGA professionals to blind and disabled golfers of all ages. Our intention is to roll out this initiative in Australia and the rest of the world reaching those in need of this specialised coaching. We believe the ISPS HANDA Perth International offers another great platform from which to promote out ultimate mission for golf to become a Paralympic sport."
Commenting on the announcement, Senior Vice President, Global Co-Managing Director of IMG, Robbie Henchman remarked: "We are delighted to welcome ISPS HANDA as our naming rights partner and on behalf of IMG I would like to extend our thanks for their invaluable support."
The ISPS HANDA Perth International also announced today that two time US PGA Tour winner and World Number 24, Bo Van Pelt from the United States would play in this year’s event. Van Pelt won his first Tour event at the US Bank Championship in 2009 and last year won the CIMB Classic in Malaysia. He has enjoyed another terrific year recording ten top ten finishes highlighted by a second place finish behind Tiger Woods at the AT&T National in July.
This will mark Van Pelt’s first visit to Australia in eight years. “I have heard a lot of great things about Western Australia from the players over here and I’m looking forward to the trip,” he said. “Perth worked out well with my schedule and the swing of events in Asia-Pacific.
Other players announced so far include former World Number Three Paul Casey along with Perth’s own Brett Rumford – a three time winner on The European Tour and an ambassador to the 2012 ISPS HANDA Perth International.
Entries for the Perth International on both The European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia close today and the full field will be published thereafter.
