Porsche AG has been announced as the title sponsor of the European Open, which takes place at Golf Resort Bad Griesbach in Germany from 24-27 September.
It is Porsche’s first title-sponsorship in professional golf, with the luxury car manufacturer agreeing with promoter 4sports & Entertainment AG (4SPORTS) to sponsor the € 2million tournament, which returns to the Race to Dubai for the first time in six years. The tournament will now be known as Porsche European Open.
Dominik Senn, CEO 4SPORTS and Tournament Director, said: “We are excited and honored to be partnering with a company like Porsche for the re-launch of the European Open. As a worldwide innovator and leader in automobile industry and premium brand, Porsche is the ideal partner for this prestigious golf event.”
The European Open was played from 1978 to 2009 and has a proud history of past champions, including Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo. Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie.
Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG, said: “We have been looking all over the world before entering into professional golf and in the end, as a sports car producer with a long tradition, we consciously decided in favour of the European Open. It is a classic with a moving history that bears the names of many golfing legends in its hall of fame. It is therefore a tournament with a heart and a soul that suits us particularly well. Above all, however, it is a tournament that enjoys an excellent reputation outside of Europe and promises golf at the very highest level.”
Maier sees the Porsche European Open as the logical extension to the Porsche Golf Cup, a worldwide amateur tournament series intended exclusively for Porsche customers.
He said “Last year alone we saw 8,000 customers line up for the 150 tournaments around the world. This constantly rising enthusiasm shows that golf presents us with another ideal opportunity to increase the loyalty of our existing customers, attract new target groups to the Porsche brand and strengthen the sporting core of our brand.”
Keith Waters, European Tour Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy, said: “We are delighted to present Porsche as title sponsor of a European Tour event for the first time, and we believe this luxury brand is a strong alliance for the return of this prestigious event to our international schedule. We are particularly grateful to Dr. h.c. Hans Dieter Cleven, the majority owner of the Golf Resort Bad Griesbach, and Dominik Senn, CEO of the tournament promoter 4SPORTS, both of whom were instrumental in attracting Porsche to the European Open, and we look forward to working together to deliver a successful tournament in September.”
The Porsche European Open is the second of two European Tour events in Germany in 2015. Last played in 2009, the renowned tournament returns to The Race to Dubai following an agreement between the European Tour and 4SPORTS, who is also the promoter for the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play at the end of July in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Dr. h.c. Hans Dieter Cleven, main shareholder of the Golf Resort Bad Griesbach, said: “We have taken the unique chance to look after this jewel of the European Tour. With the engagement from Porsche, this event can become a huge success once again.”
Tickets for the Porsche European Open are available via www.europeanopen.com
European Tour www.europeantour.com
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