Matthew Fitzpatrick, Bernd Wiesberger and Danny Willett will join former World Number One Lee Westwood under the lights when the Hero Challenge – the European Tour’s one-hole knockout contest – returns to the British Masters supported by Sky Sports later this month.
The quartet will go head-to-head over a specially constructed par three hole on Tuesday September 26 at Close House, two days before the venue near Newcastle upon Tyne hosts the British Masters supported by Sky Sports for the first time from September 28-October 1.
Tournament host Lee Westwood, the ten-time Ryder Cup player, will be joined by compatriots Matthew Fitzpatrick and Danny Willett, with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger completing half of the eight-man field that will take part in the challenge as British Masters returns to the North East for the first time in 45 years.
The Hero Challenge will take place on the Tuesday night of the British Masters supported by Sky Sports and will be televised live on Sky Sports from 7.30pm-9.00pm, and across the European Tour’s platforms, with free tickets to be there in person available here.
Eight European Tour players will feature in seven quick-fire head-to-head straight knockout matches, the last man standing will be crowned champion, with four celebrities also taking part in a separate challenge.
All four players will make their first appearance in the exciting, knockout contest which debuted at last year’s British Masters at The Grove last year and returned earlier this year at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, where American Patrick Reed defeated Tyrrell Hatton in a close-run final. The final edition of 2017 is set to take place at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Fitzpatrick, who won the British Masters on the tournament’s return to the European Tour schedule in 2015, is looking forward to the match play knockout event, having made his Ryder Cup debut alongside Westwood and Willett last year at Hazeltine National.
“I’ve watched the last two Hero Challenge events and the guys have all said how fun it is, so it will be great playing in front of the British fans this year at Close House,” said the 23 year old.
It is a sentiment echoed by 2016 Masters Tournament Champion Danny Willett as he prepares to play in front of the fans from the North East for the first time. The Englishman claimed the Green Jacket at Augusta National last year – with Westwood finishing joint runner-up – and is looking forward to playing under floodlights before the tournament officially gets underway on Thursday.
“Lee has done a brilliant job so far with the British Masters and I know that the Hero Challenge is going to be an amazing experience. The fans up North love their sport and with something different like this on the Tuesday night, the atmosphere is going to be electric, so I’m really looking forward to getting out there and challenging some of the other guys,” said Willett.
World Number 33 Wiesberger has been one of the European Tour’s in-form players this season and is currently ranked tenth in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex, having won the Shenzhen International in April.
“I love that the European Tour is introducing these new initiatives for our fans and the Hero Challenge is really exciting for us as players as well because it’s a different kind of pressure compared to what you experience in a normal golf tournament,” said the 31 year old.
“It’s certainly going to be fun and from what I hear the crowds in Newcastle are big sports fans, so I hope we can put on a good show for them.”
Westwood added: “The Hero Challenge is another exciting element to the British Masters this year and I’m looking forward to being part of it. We’ve got a great field for the tournament itself and with Danny, Matthew and Bernd also taking part in the Hero Challenge, we’ve got a fantastic line-up for that too, so I’m sure the fans will really enjoy it.”
Fans can watch the Hero Challenge for free with tickets available here and can purchase tickets to see Westwood, alongside Masters Champion Sergio Garcia and World Number 12 Alex Noren at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports at Close House from September 28-October 1, fans by clicking here
Hospitality packages for The Colt Pavilion are also available. Prices for The Colt Pavilion, which will overlook the 18th hole at Close House, start at £275 + VAT per person.
For further information or to request a brochure call 01344 840 681 email enquiries@europeantourhospitality.com
British Masters http://britishmasters.europeantour.com/
Close House http://closehouse.com/