- Kirsty Gallacher launches ‘Performance Putting Challenge’
The BMW PGA Championship, one of the highlights of the British sporting summer, will be celebrating two special anniversaries at this year’s six-day event, taking place between 20 – 25 May at the glorious Wentworth Club, in Surrey. 2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the prestigious golf tournament, first played in 1955, and BMW’s tenth anniversary as title partner of the Championship; an association which has cemented the tournament’s reputation as The European Tour’s flagship event, attracting many of the world’s leading players.
To celebrate this landmark occasion, BMW and The European Tour brought a taste of golf to the heart of London, with its ‘Performance Putting Challenge’ – a three-hole mini golf course, incorporating BMW car parts as hazards and obstacles. The Challenge was located in one of the most fashionable areas of London - Duke of York Square on the King’s Road – between Friday 25 and Sunday 27 April, providing visitors to the area will the opportunity to put their putting skills to the test.
The ‘Challenge’ was launched by Sky Sports News presenter Kirsty Gallacher, on Friday (25 April). In addition to tackling the three-hole ‘Performance Putting Challenge,’ Kirsty will be hosting the Prize Giving at this year’s BMW PGA Championship, a tournament that her father, Ryder Cup winning captain Bernard Gallacher OBE, won in 1969.
Peter Walker, General Manager of BMW Sports Marketing, said: “The ‘Performance Putting Challenge’ is a fun event, bringing a taste of golf and the BMW PGA Championship to London. It is all about having a go and introducing golf, albeit mini golf, to new audiences. The BMW PGA Championship is a fantastic tournament to kick-start the British sporting summer and there’s even more to celebrate at this year’s special anniversary event. ”
The BMW PGA Championship offers six days of high quality entertainment, including the Official Practice Day, Celebrity Pro-Am, and four rounds of compelling competition from May 20-25. An impressive list of 50 celebrities are already confirmed to take part in this year’s Celebrity Pro-Am including Chris Evans; Olympic medallists Eve Muirhead, Sir Steven Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent; footballers David Ginola, Peter Schmeichel and Jamie Redknapp and rugby stars Chris Robshaw, Ben Foden and Mike Tindall.
Jamie Birkmyre, Championship Director of the BMW PGA Championship, said: “This is a milestone year for the BMW PGA Championship, with two anniversaries to celebrate. In addition to the tournament’s 60th, we are celebrating BMW’s ten year association with the Championship, as title Partner.
“The event has come a long way since its modest beginnings in 1955. The BMW PGA Championship is now a Blue Riband event on the British sporting calendar, attracting a world class field and we have some exciting plans to celebrate this year’s Championship, which will be one of our biggest and most thrilling yet. It is an exceptional day out, in the most magnificent of settings, for golf enthusiasts and families alike. There really is something for everybody, with a superb package of fun, celebrity-spotting and world class golf taking place over a six-day period.”
Advance tickets are selling fast onwww.europeantour.com/ticketswhile hospitality packages, reserved grandstand seating at the 18th green and limited on-site parking are almost sold out. Children aged 16 and under will be admitted free of charge if accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
As in previous years, BMW Owners and Official Badge Holders will be able to park on site, while pre-paid parking on Wentworth Estate is now completely sold out. All other ticket holders – and spectators turning up on the day to purchase tickets on the gate – will need to utilise the popular Park and Ride service.
Introduced for the first time in 2013, the Park and Ride service will operate once again this year running from two locations - Broomhall Farm in Sunningdale, which will carry traffic from the South and East; and Ascot Racecourse, carrying traffic from the North and West. Both sites will be fully operational from Tuesday May 20 and will operate a free shuttle bus service to Wentworth Club every five minutes, with the journey time taking around ten minutes and allowing easy access to the Welcome Pavilion through the Championship Village.
For further information, or to book tickets, visitwww.europeantour.com
Follow all the news on BMW golf activities onwww.bmw-golfsport.com
