Ian Woosnam, the 1991 Masters champion, and nine of this season’s European Tour champions will be among a strong field for the first Sarazen World Open Championship to be played in Europe at PGA Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, this week.
Woosnam is joined at the newest venue in the portfolio of PGA European Tour Courses by Costantino Rocca, Miguel Angel Martin, David Howell, Van Phillips, Pedro Linhart, Jean-Francois Remesy, Dean Robertson, David Park and Warren Bennett.
The Sarazen World Open, played in memory of Gene Sarazen, who died, aged 97, on May 13 this year, was first held in 1994 and won by Ernie Els at Chateau Elan north of Atlanta in the United States.
For the first time, the Sarazen World Open will be part of the Volvo Order of Merit on the highly acclaimed course designed by Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo and officially opened in June.
Woosnam showed a welcome return to form in the recent Linde German Masters, where he was just edged out in a three-way play-off with Padraig Harrington and eventual winner, Sergio Garcia.
Also playing at PGA Catalunya are Andrew Coltart, fresh from his Ryder Cup debut at Brookline, Sam Torrance, the vice-captain to Mark James, and other players with previous Ryder Cup experience in Thomas Björn, Paul Broadhurst and Peter Baker.
Baker, like Woosnam, hinted at a return to top form when he came within one stroke of forcing his way into the play-off with Garcia, Harrington and the Welshman.
The Sarazen World Open was started by Dr Donald E Panoz, founder of Chateau Elan. Panoz conceived the tournament to honour a man whose very name is synonymous with golf and integrity. He was an icon for several years and won his first two major championships, the US Open and the US PGA Championship, in 1922 at the age of 20.
Sarazen achieved the pinnacle of his sport, becoming the first of only four players to win all four of golf’s major championships, and he was a Member of the first six United States Ryder Cup teams.
Donald Panoz, said: “It is extremely gratifying to know that the spirit of Gene Sarazen will continue through the tournament he founded and loved so much. We are grateful to the European Tour for keeping the memory of Gene Sarazen and what he has stood for alive.”
Els was the inaugural champion in 1994 and he was followed by Frank Nobilo of New Zealand, who won in 1995 and 1996. Mark Calcavecchia was triumphant in 1997 and another American, Dudley Hart, won last year.
The field for the 1999 Sarazen World Open is drawn from a) The winners of approved National Opens in the calendar year ending October 1, 1999; b) The top 50 from the Official World Golf Ranking as at October 1, 1999; c)The leading five players from the final Official Money Lists of the PGA Tours of Australia, South Africa and Asia in1998; d) The Squire’s Invitations consisting of eight players; and e) The leading available players from the final 1998 European Tour Volvo Order of Merit.
This format will ensure that the tradition of the Sarazen World Open will continue by bringing together golf champions from around the world to honour both Gene Sarazen and to celebrate the best in the sport.
PGA Golf de Catalunya, located close to Spain’s Costa Brava. Designed by Neil Coles and Angel Gallardo, it is set on undulating land, dense with a variety of hanging pine and cork trees which line the fairways. The mountains of the Pyrenees provide a spectacular backdrop to the 7,200 yards, par 72 course.
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of the European Tour, said: “We are delighted to perpetuate the memory of Gene with the playing of the Sarazen Tournament as an official Volvo Order of Merit event on the European Tour.
“Gene is regarded by all involved in the game as the ambassador of golf, and he recognised the importance of the international growth of the sport. We believe he would be delighted to know that the tournament launched in his honour is to continue in Spain with a field drawn from all corners of the globe.
“We are also delighted that for the first time Tour competition will take place at PGA Golf de Catalunya and we look forward to welcoming Donald Panoz, who started the tournament in the name of Gene Sarazen, to Barcelona.
