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ISPS Handa returns to back Wales Open and sponsors Belfry’s UK Championship

Dr Haruhisa Handa (left) founder of International Sports Promotion Society with European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley

Dr Haruhisa Handa (left) has agreed that his International Sports Promotion Society – ISPS Handa – will sponsor both the European Tour’s Wales Open and new UK Championship.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES

TWO of the European Tour’s new UK Swing events are going to be sponsored by ISPS Handa – the International Sports Promotion Society.

The Wales Open and the new UK Championship will both be played under the ISPS Handa umbrella after being announced as the events official partner.

The partnership aligns with the UK Swing’s ‘Golf for Good’ initiative, which has become the cornerstone of the season which has had to be rearranged as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

ISPS Handa has been a long term supporter of the European Tour – including Challenge and Senior events – believing in the power of sport to unite communities and inspire hope.”

The ISPS Handa Wales Open is set to take place at Celtic Manor, in Newport, from August 20-23, after a six-year gap since the philanthropic had previously supported the event for three consecutive years.

It is a timely return to the south Wales resort, as this year also marks the 10th anniversary of Europe’s dramatic victory against the United States in the 2010 Ryder Cup at the same venue.

The UK Swing will conclude with the inaugural ISPS Handa UK Championship at The Belfry, from August 27-30.

The Sutton Coldfield venue is steeped in Ryder Cup history, having played host to four contests. Europe triumphed in two – 1985 and 2002 – while the US won in 1993.

The 1989 match ended in a 14-14 tie but Europe retained the trophy after Tony Jacklin’s team’s historic first victory on US soil at Muirfield Village, in 1987.

In 2002, future captain Paul McGinley holed the winning putt on the 18th after a big upset in the Sunday singles.

The winning European team at the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry

The European Tour’s final UK Swing event will take place at The Belfry, in the West Midlands, where Europe won the Ryder Cup for a third time out of four matches played there, in 2002

Golf a sport for all says ISPS Handa

THE European Tour and ISPS Handa have collaborated in raising the profile of golf as an accessible sport for all through ISPS Handa’s long-term support of global golf initiatives.

Founder and chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa said: “ISPS Handa is honoured to partner with the European Tour on the ‘UK Swing’, which celebrates the return of professional golf in the UK while championing the Tour’s new ‘Golf for Good’ initiative.

“This charitable emphasis aligns with our belief that sport has the power to inspire hope and unite communities. In today’s climate, this seems more important than ever.

“We applaud the European Tour CEO Keith Pelley and his team on this inspiring leadership, and are delighted to partner with the talented golfers  in what we are sure will be a much-welcomed encouragement to golf, to the economy and to communities in the UK.”

Mr Pelley said: “We are delighted to have the support of Dr Handa and his team for the ISPS Handa Wales Open and ISPS Handa UK Championship, our final two events in the new UK Swing.

“Dr Handa is a pioneer in promoting innovation and inclusivity in the game of golf and we are thrilled to have his knowledge and commitment during these unprecedented times.

“As honorary ambassador of the ‘Golfers with Disability Programme,’ Dr Handa’s long-term support of golf globally is well-known and we appreciate the support he has shown to our players, our Tour and to the golfing communities in which we play.”

The ‘Golf for Good’ initiative, launched at the Betfred British Masters, will culminate in £500,000 from the European Tour being distributed equally between charities based in Britain.

All European Tour tournaments from July until December will form part of the Tour’s new ‘Golf for Good’ initiative, which aims to give back in three key areas:–
▪ Supporting communities where the European Tour plays
▪ Rewarding true heroes, such as front line workers
▪ Promoting the many health benefits golf offers.

Both tournaments will be broadcast live to more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries each week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event.

Under the European Tour’s health strategy, as well as creating a secure bubble for players and officials at each event, spectators will be absent during the UK swing because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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