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 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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The Diamond Country Club will host an event on the European Tour for the 10th year in a row in July after it was confirmed the Austrian Open will go ahead as planned from July 9-12

THE European Tour has brought forward the date its tournaments will resume by a week – with the Austrian Open, now going ahead at Diamond Country Club in July.

The news marks the return of the European Challenge Tour which resume its 2020 season with the Euram Bank Open a week earlier.

And the decision to hold back-to-back dual ranking events in Austria next month is a big boost for those players with limited playing opportunities in Europe, and who have no status on the PGA Tour in America.

The Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club, takes place from July 9-12.

It marks the return of the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca after a five-month pause following the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

It will be followed by the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal, which remains in its original slot on the calendar – but now begins a day earlier, taking place from Wednesday, July 15 to Saturday, July 18.

Both tournaments will have prize funds of €500,000.

The European Tour will full resumes its 2020 season with the Betfred British Masters Hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House, near Newcastle, from July 22-25 – also a day earlier than originally planned.

The Challenge Tour’s resumption will be five months after Christian Bezuidenhout won South Africa’s Dimension Data Pro-Am.

That win conclude three consecutive weeks in South Africa at the start of the 2020 Challenge Tour season.

From South Africa to Austrian Alps

BEZUIDENHOUT’S victory at Fancourt Golf Estate, in February, followed a win for fellow South African JC Ritchie in the Limpopo Championship, at Euphoria Golf Club.

Sweden’s Anton Karlsson was victorious in the RAM Cape Town Open, at Royal Cape Golf Club during the South African swing.

On the European Tour, the two dual-ranking events in Austria precede the Tour’s full return at the Betfred British Masters at Close House, in the North East.

That event launches a six-week UK swing, alongside the English Open at the Marriott Forest of Arden, the English Championship at Hertfordshire’s Marriott Hanbury Manor, the Celtic Classic and the Wales Open at The Celtic Manor Resort, and the UK Championship at The Belfry.

It will be the third consecutive year the Euram Bank Open has been part of the Challenge Tour schedule.

Dutchman Darius van Driel and Scotland’s Callum Hill won in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Calum Hill winner of the 2019 Euram Bank Open at the mountainous Golf Club Adamstal

Medical protocols guide Tour’s return

Challenge Tour head Jamie Hodges said: “We are pleased to announce the resumption of the Challenge Tour season with the Austrian Open at Diamond Country Club – and the Euram Bank Open at Golf Club Adamstal – two dual-ranking events which will take place in consecutive weeks in July.

“Our measured approach to the 2020 season has mirrored that of the European Tour.

“We have been informed each step of the way by our Medical Health Strategy, led by our chief medical officer Dr Andrew Murray, aligned to individual government safety advice.

“Part of this strategy is to play, wherever possible, in clusters in one territory.

“We are therefore grateful to the Austrian Golf Federation and the two venues – Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal – for their support in making these events happen.

“We will continue to be guided by the European Tour’s Medical Health Strategy and we will announce details of subsequent 2020 Challenge Tour events in due course.”

Ben Cowen, the European Tour’s deputy chief operating officer, said: “These two dual-ranking events provide vital playing opportunities for our members following the enforced period of inactivity since March.

“We are therefore grateful to both Diamond Country Club and Golf Club Adamstal, as well as the Austrian Golf Federation, for their support.

“We look forward to visiting Austria ahead of the European Tour’s full resumption with the Betfred British Masters at Close House the following week.”

Diamond Country Club celebrates 10th year

DIAMOND Country Club will be celebrating its 10th anniversary as a European Tour host venue next month.

Its president Christian Guzy said: “Diamond Country Club has a history of exceptional moments at the various events we have hosted.

“For example, the tournament 10 years ago was staged at short notice, and two years ago we held the world’s first Shot Clock tournament.

“Accordingly, we enjoy the trust of those individuals who are responsible for the European Tour.

“Due to the coronavirus crisis, this year’s event also takes place under very special conditions.

“There are official regulations, which we will strictly comply with.

“Nevertheless, we want to hold the tournament to the fullest satisfaction of the Tour and the players.

“I would also like to thank the political decision-makers in Austria, whose measures were a great contribution in ensuring golf was one of the first sports to resume.

“The tournament will be a good showcase not only for Austria, but also for the state of Lower Austria.”

The spectacular Golf Club Adamstal in the Austrian Alps will host the dual-ranking European Tour and Challenge Tour event when the Euram Bank Open returns in July

‘Austria leading way for golf and Formula One’

ADAMSTAL president Franz Wittmann said: “I am pleased we have become part of the European Tour with the Euram Bank Open, and that – together with the Diamond Country Club – Austria will be a pioneer in international top-class golf in Europe, following the suspension due to the coronavirus crisis.

“This is comparable with Formula One, as Austria will stage the first two successive races.

“In our country we can be very proud of that. I hope that with this restart, we can also mark a significant return for golf.

“For me personally, I wish that as many Austrians as possible will be represented on the leaderboards of both tournaments.”

Austrian Golf Federation president Dr Peter Enzinger said: “Especially in these unprecedented times, it is a great sign – and a well-earned accomplishment for golf in Austria – that the European Tour and Challenge Tour will restart their seasons after this enforced break with two events on Austrian soil.

“With so much time pressure, it was not easy to accomplish. But the co-operation with the European Tour and the Austrian Ministry of Sports has been outstanding and successful.

“We are very much looking forward to having these events and Golf Club Adamstal and Diamond Country Club – together with the Austrian Golf Federation – will again be perfect hosts and European Tour partners.”

Golfclub Adamstal was the dream of European rallying ace Wittman – who hired respected architect Jeff Howes to build a nine-hole course in 1994 – it was expanded in 1998, with a further nine holes added in 2006.

The 28 holes – the Championship Course has a 19th hole to “settle wagers” – offers some of golf’s most picturesque views on the Continent.

Austria’s Golf Club Adamstal was founded by European rallying champion Franz Wittmann

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