The stunning resort of Fairmont St Andrews will host this year’s world final of the International Pairs golf tournament, which is run in association with VisitScotland. The resort (previously known as ‘St Andrews Bay’) has previously hosted the global event’s UK finals in 2003, 2005 and 2006.
Golfers from around the globe will converge on Fife in Scotland from 1-3 July in a bid to be crowned 2007 International Pairs world champions – and follow in the footsteps of defending champions The Philippines.
The surprise pairing of Felix Cortez and Gary Sales won the coveted title at Celtic Manor last year and more than 35 pairs will again battle for world supremacy over 36 holes at Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland, which became the newest destination for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 2006.
Iain McInally, the director of golf at Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland, said, “We are thrilled to be hosting the world final. I believe the courses will offer a great test for the golfers and will create an exciting final.”
Fairmont St Andrews boasts two of the finest courses in the region – the Devlin and the Torrance, the latter having been upgraded to an Open Championship qualifying course last year – a fact not lost on International Pairs founder Ross Honey.
Honey, the Hampshire businessman who started the company as a county-wide concern in 1998 and who has grown it into a global phenomenon which spans more than 35 countries, said, “Fairmont St Andrews has been the spiritual home of the International Pairs since we first held the UK final there in 2003, and it’s a fitting venue for this year’s world final.
“A five-star venue in every way, Fairmont St Andrews has two of the finest golf courses around and will prove a privilege and a challenge in equal measure to the competitors from all over the world who will converge on the Home of Golf in July. The scene is certainly set a truly memorable final.”
The International Pairs, dubbed the biggest golf tournament in the world for club golfers, has been backed by VisitScotland for the last five years – and the national Scottish tourist body has committed to be the tournament’s main sponsor until at least 2008.
International Pairs www.internationalpairs.com