The International Federation of PGA Tours has announced International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) as the new title sponsor for the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, to be played at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club from 21-24 November, 2013.
ISPS has previously shown its commitment to professional golf through its title sponsorship of the Wales Open on The European Tour and the PGA Seniors Championship on the European Seniors Tour.
The ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf will showcase Victoria to approximately 800 million homes in more than 200 countries and territories as the best players in the world from more than 30 nations will represent their countries at Royal Melbourne.
“ISPS is delighted to become title sponsor of this exciting major global event,” said ISPS Founder and Chairman, Dr. Haruhisa Handa.
“At ISPS, we believe in the ‘power of sport’, its unique ability to create hope, to breakdown educational and cultural barriers, and to inspire people in a way that very little else does. For this reason, ISPS has a long history of supporting golf globally with a specific commitment to raising the profile of blind and disabled golf.
“Our ultimate mission is for golf to become a Paralympic sport. There is a great synergy with the World Cup of Golf embracing the same format and eligibility when golf returns to the Olympic programme in Rio 2016.”
Dr. Handa established the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) in 1998 and through ISPS recently initiated the ISPS HANDA PGA Academy Programme in the UK, which delivered more than 1,000 lessons from PGA professionals to blind and disabled golfers in 2012.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher congratulated organisers of the World Cup of Golf for securing ISPS Handa as its title sponsor for this year’s event.
“The 2013 World Cup of Golf is estimated to create between $25 million to $30 million in economic benefit to Victoria, and will attract up to 9,000 interstate and international visitors,” Ms. Asher said.
On behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia, recognised the association of ISPS HANDA, a company that has a strong history of supporting golf in Australia and globally.
“I would like to thank Dr Handa and ISPS HANDA for their generous support of golf, not only in Australia but around the World,” said Mr Thorburn. “A fitting partnership, the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf will unite golf globally, and we are looking forward to welcoming the international golf community to Melbourne.”
The tournament was founded by the International Golf Association in association with industrialist John Jay Hopkins for the purpose of promoting international goodwill through golf. It began in 1953 as the Canada Cup, and was renamed the World Cup in 1967.
The 2013 World Cup will be the 57th staging of this event, which has seen all of the greats of the game lift the prestigious trophy. The roll of honour from the World Cup reads like a who’s who of golf. Great names such as Snead, Hogan, Nicklaus, Palmer, Trevino, Faldo, Ballesteros, Langer, Woods, Els and Montgomerie have all been able to call themselves World Champions.
“The International Golf Association is extremely pleased that ISPS HANDA will title sponsor the 2013 World Cup of Golf. Since 1953, when it founded the World Cup, the International Golf Association has utilised the World Cup as a way to promote international goodwill through golf,” said Jon Linen, Chairman of the International Golf Association. “Certainly, the goal and mission of ISPS HANDA is absolutely consistent with that of the International Golf Association.”
The ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf will be promoted by IMG, and the Senior Vice President, Global Managing Director – IMG Golf, Guy Kinnings, said: “We are delighted to welcome ISPS HANDA as the naming rights partner. On behalf of IMG, I would like to extend our thanks for their invaluable support, and for everything they do to promote golf around the globe.”
Tickets to witness the world class event are on sale now from www.ticketmaster.com.au.
ISPS www.ispsgolf.com
IMG www.imgworld.com