Former US Open Champion Justin Rose is the first of golf’s global superstars to confirm that he will line-up in the field for this year’s BMW PGA Championship, one of the biggest sporting and social events on the UK sporting calendar, taking place at Wentworth Club in Surrey from 26-29 May.
To mark and celebrate the announcement, Rose has helped launch a three-month campaign with the tournament’s Official Media Partner, Clear Channel UK. The Ryder Cup star, currently ranked Number Eight in the World, will feature on some of the most iconic outdoor advertising sites in the UK, including Clear Channel’s premium digital brand, Storm, bringing the tournament and Rose to the attention of millions of residents and commuters in and around the capital.
The 2016 campaign, highlighting the proximity of the BMW PGA Championship to the 3,500,000 people living, working in or visiting London, will see Rose featured on Storm Westway Tower on the A40 Westway, targeting traffic from the M40, as well as the famous Storm Chiswick Towers on the M4 and other strategic outdoor sites on arterial routes within close range of Wentworth Club, including the M3 and A3. The campaign will also feature across Clear Channel’s unique ‘Wrap’ network of digital 48-sheet billboards around London.
Rose, who has represented Europe at three Ryder Cups to date and secured his first Major at the US Open in 2013, has come agonisingly close to lifting the BMW PGA Championship trophy at a tournament he used to attend as a starry-eyed youngster.
The proud Englishman is excited to be part of the initial 2016 launch in London, just a short distance from Wentworth Club, commenting: “The BMW PGA Championship is a tournament I grew up with as a kid, as we lived close to Wentworth and my dad used to take me. It’s a fantastic tournament that’s always featured high on my list of priorities. I would love to lift that trophy at the end of May.
“I’m delighted to be part of the London launch for this year’s tournament too. It’s a great opportunity to bring this fantastic tournament, and the fact that it’s such a short distance from the capital, to the attention of a huge London audience. Although I still can’t get used to seeing my image looming large over London.”
Peter Walker, General Manager, Sports marketing, BMW (UK) Ltd, welcomed the initiative, saying: “The BMW PGA Championship is a Blue Riband event, signalling the start of the great British sporting summer. The tournament continues to go from strength to strength and we are excited to be involved with Clear Channel UK, one of the biggest outdoor advertising companies in the world, to help promote the event in May.”
Aimee Mckay, Managing Director of Storm, Clear Channel UK’s super premium digital brand, added: “This is Clear Channel’s third year as an Official Media Partner to the BMW PGA Championship and we are delighted to be working with the European Tour to create world-class advertising in the lead up to the tournament. The use of Clear Channel’s Storm network means the BMW PGA Championship will reach millions of people in and around London on some of the most famous digital Out of Home sites anywhere in the world.”
The Championship’s Park and Ride system – which successfully ferried the record crowds which attended the 2015 Championship – will once again be in operation for visitors planning to drive to the tournament, with a free shuttle bus service running every five minutes, direct to the entrance of the Championship Village. A free shuttle service will also be in operation from Virginia Water station, for visitors preferring to travel by train. As in previous years, BMW owners will be able to park on site at no charge.
Tickets for the 2016 BMW PGA Championship are available at advance prices for the Practice Day on Tuesday May 24, the Celebrity Pro-Am on Wednesday May 25 and all four days of the tournament from May 26-29.
To purchase tickets visit www.bmwpga.com or call the ticket hotline on 01344 840550.
Further details will be announced shortly on hospitality packages. Email enquiries@europeantourhospitality.com to register for priority information.
European Tour www.europeantour.com