Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter is set to boost the profile of the inaugural Business Fort English PGA Championship by agreeing to play in the eve-of-tournament pro-am at Goodwood Golf Club.
The world number six, who is an ambassador for support sponsor Cobra, will tee it up in the pro-am following his appearance in the Open Championship at St Andrews in July.
Poulter, a former PGA graduate whose rise to the top was capped earlier this year by victory in the World Golf Match Play Championship in Arizona, has given an enthusiastic backing to the 54-hole event which carries a £30,000 prize fund and will take place from July 22-24.
“As someone who came through the ranks as a young PGA pro I’m delighted that many of my peers that I played golf with in my early days have been handed this fantastic opportunity to compete for the English PGA Championship for what will be the first time,” said the current European Tour Race to Dubai leader. The standard of golf amongst PGA professionals is very high and I am sure many of the competitors who play at Goodwood will graduate to play on tour in years to come.”
Poulter’s support of the tournament, which also has golf benchmarking specialists 59Club as an associate sponsor, earned a welcome response from Business Fort chairman Steve Withers.
“Ian is one of golf’s biggest names and it’s fantastic that he is supporting the inaugural English PGA Championship by agreeing to play in the pro-am and such has been his form this year that hopefully he might even be arriving with the Claret Jug in his possession,” said Withers. “We’re really excited at the forthcoming championship and are looking forward to making it a popular fixture on the calendar.”
Goodwood general manager Andrew Grahame added: “It’s tremendous that Ian is able to support the English PGA Championship in this way and his presence will be invaluable in raising the profile of this exciting event.”
The tournament promises to have one of the strongest fields of the season with exemptions for last year’s Great Britain & Ireland PGA Cup team, the PGA Assistants’ champion and Senior PGA Professional champion plus the top five (if eligible) from each of the PGA’s seven regional Order of Merits.
Goodwood is a privately owned 12,000 acre estate set in the heart of West Sussex. It has been the home to the Duke of Richmond and family for over 300 years. There are two outstanding 18 hole courses at Goodwood – the historic James Braid designed Downs Course which is available to members, their guests and corporate guests and the Park Course designed by Donald Steel which operates as a ‘visitor golf’ venue open to all golfers paying a green fee.
The clubhouse known as ‘The Kennels’ is a stunning 18th century Grade I* listed building with lavish locker rooms with a full attendant service, a drawing room, bar and dining room offering fine dining. Woody buggies and Ralph Lauren’s first ever flagship golf store in Europe complete the comprehensive golf facilities at Goodwood.
The Goodwood Hotel located within the estate has 94 guestrooms and features the 18th century former inn called the Richmond Arms offering rustic country cuisine in the vaulted restaurant. Elsewhere, Goodwood also has its own health club and contemporary bar & grill. Goodwood is located 10 minutes from Chichester and just one hour from London. www.goodwood.co.uk
The Business Fort PLC; located in Lichfield, Staffordshire is a corporate investment company that invests in SME’s throughout the UK; companies that have a good future ahead of them but unfortunately have run into financial difficulty. Providing financial investment and support primarily to companies that are considering either Administration/Liquidation, Angel Investment or simply struggling financially and require support from the expertise resources The Business Fort can offer such as; finance, purchasing, HR, Sales & Marketing. www.thebusinessfort.co.uk
59club has been developed exclusively with selected venues such as The Belfry and Forest of Arden and has recently expanded to encompass the hotel chains of Marriott, De Vere, Macdonald, Q and Principal-Hayley. www.59clubmembers.co.uk
The Professional Golfers’ Association www.PGA.info
Ian Poulter courtesy of Camden Ventures