Close House, home to European Ryder Cup legend Lee Westwood, has announced that the PING Junior Masters will take place at the club this summer during the build-up to the European Tour’s British Masters.
Westwood, Close House and PING all believe very passionately about the importance of introducing young people to the game of golf. In 2019, Close House delivered subsidised coaching in 26 schools within the community, as well as hosting a school’s golf festival for over 200 children from 18 different schools.
“Helping to get more kids in the north excited about the game is very important. It’s been brilliant to see this event grow and develop and I can’t wait to meet this year’s participants in July,” commented Westwood. “It’s a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the eventual winner to play a part in the British Masters and tee it up with some of the world’s very best golfers.”
The final will be held on July 28, two days prior to the European Tour event, with each finalist receiving a PING cap, as well as VIP access to the Hero Challenge taking place on the Tyne river. The overall winner will also receive entry into the British Masters pro-am on July 29.
Qualifying stages for the tournament will take place at local clubs across the north of England from April, with each club’s Junior Open serving as a qualifier to the PING Junior Masters – with close to 90 spots available for the final.
John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe, commented: “Over the last few years the Junior Masters has had an incredibly positive impact on junior golf in the region and the support that Close House and PING ambassador Lee Westwood has shown has been crucial in making the event what it is today.”
The first qualifying event will take place in April in Newcastle, with the remainder being played throughout the season at venues in Middlesbrough, Worksop, Ladybank and Bradford, before the final at Close House in July.
“We are extremely proud of the work we have done at Close House to establish the PING Junior Masters as an annual event,” added Sir Graham Wylie, owner of Close House.
For more information on the PING Junior Masters and Close House, visit www.closehouse.com/british-masters.