Leading golf course equipment supplier John Deere has strengthened its ties with world-class tournament golf by coming on board as a support sponsor of the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship.
The arrangement marks the first time the international company has been associated with the European Seniors Tour’s longest-running event which is taking place at Slaley Hall from 21-24 August and boasts a record prize fund of £300,000.
Former Ryder Cup captains Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance are among the star attractions at the Northumbrian resort and with live coverage on Sky Sports the sponsorship offers increased exposure opportunity for the already high profile John Deere brand.
The PGA Seniors Championship enjoys a long and illustrious history and is one of only two 72 hole events on the Seniors Tour. Past winners include Open champions Max Faulkner, Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson while Torrance is a two time champion (2005 & 06) and record Seniors Tour money winner Carl Mason is the defending champion.
“John Deere is very pleased to be associated for the first time with the European Senior Tour’s longest running tournament, the De Vere PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall,” said David Thorne, director of sales & marketing for Deere’s commercial & consumer equipment (C&CE) division for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
“This is a natural extension of our well-established relationship with tournament golf as official golf course equipment supplier to the PGA Tour in the USA and the Ladies European Tour, and host of the world famous John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run, an annual PGA Tour event.”
David Hart, C&CE division manager of John Deere Limited in the UK and Ireland, added, “Following close on the heels of our successful support of this year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, we see this new sponsorship as an excellent opportunity to build on our relationship with the PGA, and underline our commitment to the European golf industry.”
Deere & Company is the world’s largest supplier of advanced products, services and finance for agriculture and forestry, lawn and turf care, construction, landscaping and irrigation.
De Vere Collection www.devere-hotels.com
John Deere Limited www.johndeere.co.uk
Professional Golfers‘ Association www.PGA.info