Tag Archives: European Tour

May 20, 2015 – The European Tour has launched Your Race to Dubai. The new fan game enables golfers to take on top tour pros in match play every week via the live-scoring app, Golf GameBook.

Golfers simply challenge the stars of The European Tour to a match play game and record their own scores using the free Golf GameBook iPhone app, then earn ranking points based on each match’s outcome.

The launch of Your Race to Dubai coincides with The European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Surrey, May 21-24, giving golfers the opportunity to challenge defending champion and World Number One, Rory McIlroy and major winners Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell.

The scores of professionals will be updated automatically and instantly on the Golf GameBook app, so fans watching tournament rounds in real time will know whether they are up or down in their match play. The app has been specially configured to automatically adjust for amateur handicaps as well as the different courses being played by the tour pros.

Tim Hunt, Marketing Communications Director of The European Tour, said: “Technology and social media has brought fans closer than ever to their heroes. Now, with Your Race to Dubai, golfers can go a step further and compete week-after-week with the stars of the game playing on The European Tour.”

Each week, before a European Tour event, the pros available to challenge on Your Race to Dubai are updated with 10 contesting that week’s event. These will be made up of five from the top of the latest Race to Dubai ranking and five additional wild cards.

Among the wild cards for the first week of Your Race to Dubai is Mikko Ilonen, a five-time European Tour winner including the 2014 Volvo World Match Play Championship.

Mikko Ilonen, who is also a Golf GameBook ambassador, said: “From my experience of playing with golfers in Pro-Ams, people get a kick out of going up against a tour pro and Your Race to Dubai is a fantastic means of opening this experience up to a global golf audience.

“It’s fun that golfers around the globe can now play against me this week. I have already been contacted by golfers at my local club in Finland who have been practising in preparation of challenging me, so there will be some pressure on me there!”

The full list of European Tour professionals available to challenge in week one of Your Race to Dubai include:

Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Mikko Ilonen, Danny Willett, Alex Noren, Branden Grace, Martin Kaymer, Joost Luiten, Graeme McDowell and Anirban Lahiri.

Kalle Vainola, co-Founder of GameBook, said: “Your Race to Dubai is unique in sport because it enables fans to go head-to-head and compete with the best in the game on a weekly basis. Golfers can now have a real European Tour experience for themselves against the likes of Rory, Rose, Garcia and Stenson, and they can do so from anywhere in the world.”

More information at www.yourracetodubai.com, www.golfgamebook.com and www.europeantour.com.

Golf & Apps, Golf & Social Media

Golf GameBook – Fans take on European Tour stars in new ‘Your Race to Dubai’ game

20 March, 2015 REDACCIÓN

March 20, 2015 – Golf fans around the globe will soon be able to take on stars of The European Tour in a new match play challenge powered by live-scoring app Golf GameBook.

The groundbreaking ‘Your Race to Dubai’ game enables amateur golfers to use scores recorded on the free Golf GameBook iPhone app to challenge top tournament professionals competing in European Tour events in the same week.

The exciting new concept, which will be launched in time for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, May 21-24, puts fans in the unique position of going head-to-head with their favourite players, including Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson, during live tournament play.

From the comfort of their own home, fans watching the tournament on TV or online, and simultaneously using the Golf GameBook app, can see their match play round unfold hole by hole, sharing comments and score updates on social media.

Each result counts towards a global ‘Your Race to Dubai’ ranking, ending at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates, November 19-22.

Tim Hunt, Marketing Communications Director of The European Tour, said: “Many of our European Tour professionals are already familiar with Golf GameBook and have used the app for live scoring, sharing pictures and comments during tournament Pro-Ams. It has proved popular and so developing this concept into a global ‘Your Race to Dubai’ weekly game, available in 26 countries, is a great way for fans to engage with the Race to Dubai and inspire them to play their best golf.”

The scores of professionals will be updated automatically and instantly on the Golf GameBook app, so fans watching tournament rounds in real time will know whether they are up or down in their match play. The app has been specially configured to automatically adjust for amateur handicaps as well as the different courses being played by fans and professionals.

Kalle Vainola, co-Founder of GameBook, said: “Your Race to Dubai offers golfers a unique experience and brings a whole new meaning to their rounds. For most golfers, the thought of playing with the likes of Rory, Justin or Henrik is a dream; but with our match play all golfers, whether they are in Europe, Asia or the Middle East, can enjoy a European Tour experience and the opportunity to go head-to-head with some of the best professional golfers in the world.”

HOW ‘YOUR RACE TO DUBAI’ WORKS

Using the Golf GameBook app, fans challenge a nominated European Tour professional to a match play round at a European Tour event, selecting a specific tournament day.

Fans play an 18-hole round at least one day before the nominated tournament round, keeping score with the Golf GameBook live-scoring app.

Using the app on iPhone or iPad, the fan can then watch the match play round unfold live during the European Tour event, hole by hole, sharing comments, score updates and results on social media.

Developed by PGA professionals who themselves have previously played on The European Tour and Challenge Tour, Golf GameBook is now the fastest growing golf community in the world with more than 850,000 downloads. It was also recently shortlisted for both ‘Best Use of Technology by a Sponsor’ and ‘Best Sports App’ at the Sports Technology Awards 2015.

With nearly 2.5 million rounds of golf recorded so far, Golf GameBook is a free live scoring app that offers social interaction between players and friends on the course.

More information at www.yourracetodubai.com.

DP World Tour, Golf & Cinema, Golf & Social Media, MyGolfGuay

European Tour – New ‘Drama on the World Stage’ ad campaign

26 February, 2015 REDACCIÓN

February 26, 2015 – Everyone has, at some point in their lives, been so captivated by a moment of sport that time stands still and nothing else matters except seeing what happens. That is precisely the concept behind The European Tour’s latest ad campaign, ‘Drama on the World Stage’, which is aired for the first time this week.

The ad – shot in super slow motion and to a haunting Mozart soundtrack – features US Open Champion Martin Kaymer hitting a bunker shot to the 18th green of the DP Tour World Championship, Dubai; a shot which literally entrances everyone watching.

Martin Kaymer said: “Making the film was great fun and I was proud to be involved in it. It was very cool the way it was done and it was great to be a part of something like that. It’s always great to promote The European Tour because we have so much to offer – and it’s good that we can show people what a good product we have.”

The ad captures that dramatic moment in time and focuses on the reactions of fans both at the event and around the world as they stare, transfixed, at the shot as it unfolds. From a distracted barman to interrupted lovers, everyone’s attention is held.

Around the green itself, thousands of spectators and photographers are enthralled, while in the adjacent television studio 2014 Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley and Sky Sports presenter David Livingstone watch in awe as the ball rolls towards the cup and hangs on the edge as the music reaches a crescendo.

The ad launches this week and will be shown by Sky Sports in the UK and The Golf Channel in the US, as well as being offered to broadcasters through European Tour Productions. The global campaign will reach into all of The European Tour’s key territories throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Tim Hunt, Marketing Communications Director for The European Tour, said: “The success of our previous campaign, ‘Every Shot Imaginable’ has given us the confidence to develop this new campaign, focusing even more on the talents of some of The European Tour’s leading players.”

“The ability of our players to deliver dramatic sporting moments across the world, and the increasing engagement of our global fan base were the inspiration behind the idea. We hope everyone will enjoy the ads and that they will inspire fans to continue to watch the incredible performances of our players week in, week out on The European Tour.”

DP World Tour, Ping

Ping – Lee Westwood, all-time career money leader on the European Tour

11 February, 2015 MIGUEL ANGEL BUIL

February 11, 2015 – Lee Westwood has became the all-time career money leader on the European Tour following his 5th place tied at the Maybank Malaysian Open on latest Sunday. He has earned more than $30.5 million in 447 events, winning 23 times with 147 Top-10s.

Westwood has 57 gold putters housed in the PING Gold Putter Vault recognizing his worldwide victories, plus his nine-straight Ryder Cup appearances and other career milestones. He won as recently as December, when he captured the Thailand Golf Championship.

This is the Rank:

1º. Lee Westwood 30.6 millon Euros
2º. Ernie Els 30.5 millon Euros
3º. Colin Montgomerie 24.5 millon Euros
4º. Rory McIlroy 24.3 millon Euros
5º. Padraig Harrington 24.0 millon Euros

DP World Tour, What's in the bag…

Callaway Golf – Amazing hat-trick for the brand at European Tour thanks to Branden Grace

16 December, 2014 REDACCIÓN

December 16, 2014 – Callaway Staff Professional Branden Grace has continued the manufacturer’s winning streak on the European Tour courtesy of a convincing seven-shot victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club, South Africa.

Following wins by Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett in consecutive tournaments, the 2014 Race to Dubai finale and first event of the 2015 European Tour season respectively, the 26-year-old went wire-to-wire with rounds of 62, 66, 72 and 68 to join his Callaway stable mates in the winners’ circle, finishing 20-under par and completing the company’s hat-trick.

Powered by a full bag of Callaway and Odyssey product, the South African earned his fifth European Tour victory and became the first golfer to secure both Alfred Dunhill titles. Commenting on his win, Branden Grace said: “One of the main things this week has been the driving; I just put a new driver in the bag in Dubai and that’s been the key this week.”

“It’s been a phenomenal week. It’s special to win it wire-to-wire, more so because it’s in front of a local crowd. It was a pretty flawless round today and the perfect way to finish off an incredible tournament.”

Neil Howie, President and Managing Director of Callaway Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are delighted that Branden used the new Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond Driver to such devastating effect this week and became the first player globally to win with it in the bag.”

“With the ink barely dry on our previous two victories, it’s fantastic to be celebrating both Branden’s fifth European Tour title and the third consecutive Callaway win on The European Tour.”

Grace opened his account as a Callaway Staff Professional in 2012 fresh from The European Tour Qualifying School by becoming just the sixth player in history to win their first two European Tour events in back-to-back tournaments.

What’s in Branden Grace golf bag?

Driver: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 Double Black Diamond (8.5º)

Fairway wood: Callaway Big Bertha V Series (3-wood)

Utility: Callaway Apex UT (18º)

Irons: Callaway X Forged ‘13 (4-PW)

Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (52º, 56º, 60º)

Putter: Odyssey Versa WBW V-Line

Golf Ball: Callaway Speed Regime SR3

Footwear: FootJoy

DP World Tour

European Tour – Korhonen tops crop of pros earning the card at PGA Catalunya

22 November, 2014 REDACCIÓN

November 22, 2014 – Twenty-seven tour professionals, from 12 different countries, have secured their place on 2015 European Tour, playing at the Stadium Course on PGA Catalunya Resort, in The European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage.

Contested for the seventh consecutive year at The European Tour Destination on November 15-20, 2014, the 150-strong field – cut to 77 after four-days play – was topped by Finland’s Mikko Korhonen.

The Finn has played and competed at PGA Catalunya Resort as recently as May 2014, when he finished tied in 15^th place in the Open de España.

The 34-year-old said: “I’ve been playing here since the late 90s when I played in an amateur championship and I love it. I played well here in spring during the Spanish Open and there are no bad holes.”

“Everybody is so friendly here – it’s a great place to come. It’s very important to like being where you’re playing. It helps you play well.”

The venue has recently been recognized as Spain’s Best Golf Course by the World Golf Awards, and has been voted European Golf Resort of the Year 2015 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).

Mike Stewart, European Tour Qualifying School Director, said: “The European Tour has an increasingly global appeal, and as a by-product, The Qualifying School attracts golfers from all over the world.”

“In total, 28 nations were represented in the final stage alone and golfers have travelled from as far away as Australia and New Zealand to compete this week.”

“PGA Catalunya Resort is the ideal venue for this tournament. The two courses, practice facilities, accommodation, staff and climate are outstanding.”

Julio Delgado, Chief Executive Officer of PGA Catalunya Resort, said: “The Qualifying School Final is now a familiar event on our calendar and we do everything we can to make players and their teams, The European Tour, volunteers and spectators feel comfortable wherever they have travelled from.”

DP World Tour

European Tour – Colin Montgomerie celebrates his 600th appearance

16 November, 2014 REDACCIÓN

November 16, 2014 – Having amassed 31 European Tour victories, eight Order of Merit titles, two Senior Major Championships, and played in eight Ryder Cups, Colin Montgomerie turned from champion golfer to host last Saturday evening, welcoming guests to a celebration of his 600^th European Tour appearance at the Turkish Airlines Open.

On the eve of what is poised to be a tense final round with European Ryder Cup stars, Major Champions and former World No.1’s towards the top of the world-class leaderboard at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Colin Montgomerie took the opportunity to host guests, VIPs and sponsors in a special evening.

On the luxury terrace overlooking the 18^th green of the Montgomerie Maxx Royal golf course, Colin welcomed guests to celebrate his milestone achievement. “This is a very special week, and this evening it’s fantastic to be able to relax and have a bit of down time with the fantastic team here at the Maxx Royal and the Turkish Airlines Open,” commented Colin. “To be able to mark my 600^th Tour event at a course I designed and which is hosting such a prestigious tournament on the European Tour is a huge honour for me.”

Colin Montgomerie continued, “We all had a great time last year when we first came to Turkey, and to see the tournament return to the Montgomerie Maxx Royal is a great thrill for me. Despite the weather it promises to be a very successful tournament.”

Guests for the evening included dignitaries from some of the event sponsors, including Turkish Airlines, The Ministry of Youth and Sports, The European Tour, the world’s media, and Maxx Royal owner, Memet Ersoy.

“We have had another fantastic week of golf this week, and are delighted to strengthen our ties with the European Tour and of course, with Colin,” commented Memet Ersoy. “He has been very kind to host us this evening and we’re delighted that he could celebrate his 600^th event with us.”

DP World Tour, Golf Courses and resorts

Las Colinas Golf – Approval from European Tour School organizers & competitors

12 November, 2014 REDACCIÓN

November 12, 2014 – The fourth consecutive staging of European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club concluded on Monday with much acclaim for the world apart venue.

“Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has proved itself yet again as a first-class host venue, presenting an immaculately conditioned course and a very professional service,” said Mike Stewart, Qualifying School Director, European Tour. “The availability of on-site accommodation combined with fantastic practice facilities, has resulted in high praise from players and organisers alike.”

The 72-hole shoot out around one of Continental Europe’s Top 100 saw England’s Chris Paisley top the 79-strong field of European Tour hopefuls with a -17 total. The 2009 Walker Cup player and 2012 English Challenge winner carded a final round 66 to finish three shots clear of fellow countryman, Sam Walker, and Italy’s Nicolo Ravano. England’s Jamie Elson, Scott Fallon, Richard McEvoy and Lloyd Kennedy all put in solid performances finishing comfortably within the Top 10, and securing one of 16 prized spots at Final Stage.

Taking advantage of the contemporary on-site apartments throughout the week, Chris Paisley said of the venue: “Las Colinas Golf & CC was great – a fantastic course, really enjoyable to play and the greens were great…I was staying in the apartments which were really nice and the weather’s been pretty good too so it really has just been a good week.”

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club has rapidly developed into a world-class destination since its opening in 2010. Located just south of Alicante in the region of Valencia, the Cabell B. Robinson design is a fair test for the professionals and holidaying golfers alike. Under the management of leading golf management group Troon, who ensure pristine condition and quality throughout, the par-71, 6,973 yard championship course is distinguished by expansive bunkering and impressive water features, and proves to be a popular venue for both competitors and the European Tour.

Cristobal Guerrero, Las Colinas Golf & Country Club Managing Director said: “It is an honour and a pleasure for us to be consistently selected as host venue to European Tour Qualifying School Stage 2, affording us the chance to showcase our championship golf course, contemporary accommodation, professional team and mild climate. From all the team at Las Colinas Golf & Country, we would like to congratulate all those advancing to the Final Stage.”

Offering a world apart, the venue is also home to the International School of Falconry Las Colinas, an exclusive Beach Club, designer restaurants and newly launched villas, affording guests the most luxurious golf package in the region.

DP World Tour, Golf Courses and resorts, Tournaments

PGA Catalunya – European Tour Qualifying School final stage venue for 7th year

5 September, 2014 REDACCIÓN

September 5, 2014 – The European Tour Qualifying School Schedule, one of golf’s ultimate tests, will once again reach its exciting climax at PGA Catalunya Resort, where the Final Stage will be played for the seventh consecutive season from November 15-20, 2014.

Commenting on the longstanding relationship The European Tour has had with the host venue, Mike Stewart, Qualifying School Director, said: “It is rare that you find a venue with two superb courses both in magnificent condition, but PGA Catalunya Resort fits the bill perfectly. By its nature the Qualifying School can be a long and stressful week for the players, but it is very reassuring to know that the courses they will play – and the facilities they will practise on – are of the highest quality.”

This November, PGA Catalunya Resort’s Stadium and Tour courses will, once more, play host to The European Tour’s Qualifying School Final Stage event.

The six-round event, which has been contested at the World Top 100 venue since 2008, will test the skills and stamina of golfers at either end of the spectrum under the most intense pressures.

This year’s tournament will see young up-and-comers and experienced pros alike tee it up to gain their 2015 European Tour cards, having made it through the previous two qualifying stages, or having narrowly missed out on a European Tour card through the Race to Dubai or Challenge Tour Rankings.

Commenting on the return of the Qualifying School Final Stage event to PGA Catalunya Resort, The European Tour’s Mike Stewart said: “PGA Catalunya Resort is an excellent facility that year-on-year has welcomed the Qualifying School back with open arms. This season promises to be yet another thrilling conclusion to the process, as some of the newest and the most experienced players battle it out for their European Tour cards.”

“Knowing the players will be greeted by some of the best practice facilities around, as well as two stunning championship layouts, will no doubt help them get through what is bound to be a long and stressful week.”

Once again will be one of the game’s most exciting events unfolds later this year. In 2013 the winner was the Spanish Carlos del Moral.