One of Europe’s leading golf retailer, American Golf, is proud to announce that it will be the ‘Official Retail Partner’ of the ISPS Handa World Invitational 2021.
The golf equipment and apparel retailer has formed the strategic partnership with the unique and innovative tournament, as it continues to champion inclusivity in golf. The tournament has a planned purse of over $2million, with equal prize values for competing female and male players and is heralded as a vision for the future of professional golf.
The inaugural 2019 ISPS Handa World Invitational marked the first time in the history of professional golf in Europe that men and women had played separate tournaments for equal prize money.
This year’s event has been elevated to a full Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and European Tour, with the tournament taking place at Galgorm Castle Golf Club and Estates, Ballymena, Northern Ireland between 28th July and 1st August 2021.
As the ‘Official Retail Partner’, American Golf will enjoy prominent branding on-course and across official tournament materials including the event programme, as well as exclusive retail rights in the Championship Village.
CEO of American Golf, Gary Favell, comments: “Equality and inclusivity are the bedrocks of the World Invitational and fuel an ambition for making golf fairer. It’s a fantastic tournament and is exactly the type of event that will encourage a change in culture and attitudes throughout the golfing world. We share these values and partnering with the tournament was a natural fit.
“From supporting the Rose Ladies Series through to our partnership with Brendan Lawlor in his efforts to bring disability golf to the masses, we’re keen to drive forward with our mission to make golf more inclusive. Being at the heart of the World Invitational will enable us to reach even more people that share this goal.”
Whilst COVID-19 stopped the 2020 World Invitational taking place, the 2019 event attracted around 300 female and male golfers and reached a global audience in excess of 500 million people. The 2021 ISPS Handa World Invitational 2021 is co-sanctioned by the LPGA and European Tour.
Music solo artist and former One Direction member, Niall Horan, whose golf management company, Modest! Golf, promotes the event, says: “We are so delighted to have the well-recognised and respected retailer, American Golf, on-board for this year’s ISPS Handa World Invitational. The retailer has long supported inclusivity and equality in the golf industry and is a welcome addition to the event.”
World top five disability golfer, Brendan Lawlor, says: “Golf is one of the most inclusive sports there is, literally everyone can play and having support from large companies, such as American Golf, ensures these equality-focused events can take place and spread awareness of the many benefits of golf, irrelevant of age, ethnicity, gender or disability.”