The European Tour today welcomes the news that Saab, the global premium car maker with a distinguished history of innovation, has been announced by The Celtic Manor Resort as title sponsor of the Wales Open and that Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell will return as the defending champion.
The Saab Wales Open will be played June 2-5 at The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales and the sponsorship deal with Saab launches an exciting new chapter in the history of the tournament which, since inception in 2000, has established itself as a stellar event of The European Tour International Schedule. This will be the twelfth edition of the tournament and the fourth time it has been played on The Twenty Ten Course on which Europe regained The Ryder Cup last October.
Saab Great Britain Ltd Marketing Director, David Pugh, said: “We are very excited to sign up as the title sponsor for the Saab Wales Open at a wonderful venue like The Celtic Manor Resort. We have watched the tournament develop into one of the biggest and most established golf events in Europe and we are delighted to help take it to the next level as the Saab Wales Open. We feel that the innovative sponsorship approach in creating Saab Golf Week, encompassing the exciting launch of PowerPlay Golf’s professional series and the Saab Wales Open, is highly reflective of our brand.
“The spectacular Twenty Ten Course came to the attention of so many people during the unforgettable Ryder Cup played there in October and we look forward to seeing many of the superstars of world golf return for the first Saab Wales Open. We are delighted to associate our brand with such a prestigious tournament and such a stunning resort venue.”
Ryder Cup stars Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain), Robert Karlsson (Sweden), Paul McGinley (Ireland), Ian Poulter (England) and McDowell head an international roll call of past champions which also takes in Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl and Steen Tinning, England’s Simon Khan, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie South Africa’s Richard Sterne and Australia’s Scott Strange.
George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “We are delighted to welcome Saab to The European Tour family of sponsors for a tournament that has swiftly earned a prestigious place on The European Tour International Schedule with a pedigree of superb champions. We look forward to the Saab Wales Open continuing to flourish at The Celtic Manor Resort and on the celebrated Twenty Ten Course where Graeme McDowell’s putt at the 16th more or less set the seal on Europe’s Ryder Cup victory last October. Graeme’s return to Celtic Manor will be eagerly anticipated as he seeks to defend two titles in two weeks when he travels from Wales on to the US Open.”
McDowell, of course, famously secured Europe’s success in The 2010 Ryder Cup during an outstanding season when he followed his Wales Open victory ahead of Welshman Rhys Davies and England’s Luke Donald by, 14 days later, becoming the first European winner of the United States Open for 40 years.
American John Daly, winner of the Open Championship and the US PGA Championship, has also confirmed that he will challenge for the title and the first prize of £300,000 for the first time. In total, a prize fund of £1,800,000 will be on offer to the international field of 156 golfers.
McDowell and Daly will arrive early for Saab Golf Week with an exciting new event – PowerPlay Golf: Ignition – launching proceedings on Bank Holiday Monday May 30. Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, winners of 21 tournaments on The European Tour International Schedule, have also confirmed their places in a field for this innovative nine hole, two flag golfing format which also includes South Africa’s Gary Player, winner of nine Major Championships and 176 titles worldwide, Welshman Ian Woosnam, the 1991 Masters Champion, and reigning US Women’s Open Champion Paula Creamer.
Sir Terry Matthews, The Celtic Manor Resort Chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Saab on board as the title sponsor of the Saab Wales Open. The Celtic Manor Resort has enjoyed a decade’s fantastic exposure as the title sponsor of this European Tour event and, in partnership with Saab, we will now be able to raise the profile of the tournament to an even higher level.
“With the launch of the exciting new PowerPlay Golf series on the Bank Holiday Monday this is going to be one dynamite week of golf.”
Spectators purchasing day tickets (£25) to the Saab Wales Open will receive substantial discounts on tickets to PowerPlay Golf: Ignition with anyone buying a season ticket (£55) to the 72-hole stroke play tournament from Thursday through Sunday enjoying free admission to the Bank Holiday Monday event earlier in the week.
For tickets and further information, visitwww.walesopen.com
About the Saab Wales Open:
Premium car manufacturer Saab took over title sponsorship of the Saab Wales Open in 2011 from The Celtic Manor Resort, which continues to be the host venue and event promoter. The tournament was the first European Tour event to be staged in Wales for a decade when Steen Tinning won the inaugural event in 2000. Prize money has more than doubled in the 11 years since with a roll call of champions which includes Ryder Cup stars Paul Lawrie, Paul McGinley, Ian Poulter, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Robert Karlsson and Graeme McDowell.
The tournament was held on the Wentwood Hills course from 2000-2004 before switching to The Celtic Manor Resort’s Roman Road course from 2005-2007 as work was carried out on the new Twenty Ten Course. The Twenty Ten, the first course ever to be purpose built to host The Ryder Cup, took over the staging of the championship from 2008. The Saab Wales Open strives to offer visitors more than just a golf tournament and one of the largest hospitality pavilions on The European Tour is complemented by a tented village of attractions for all spectators to enjoy. In 2011, Saab Golf Week tees off early with PowerPlay Golf: Ignition Driven by Saab taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 30.
For further information, visitwww.saabwalesopen.com
Previous winners:
2010 Graeme McDowell
2009 Jeppe Huldahl
2008 Scott Strange
2007 Richard Sterne
2006 Robert Karlsson
2005 Miguel Angel Jiménez
2004 Simon Khan
2003 Ian Poulter
2002 Paul Lawrie
2001 Paul McGinley
2000 Steen Tinning
