Zurich Insurance has extended its presence in golf by becoming an Official Partner of the British Masters Supported by Sky Sports, with one of the brand’s golf ambassadors, Jamie Donaldson, confirmed as part of the field at Woburn Golf Club, from October 8-11.
Donaldson will join a strong field over the Marquess’ Course, which includes tournament host Ian Poulter, as well as former World Number Ones Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, who all feature on the tournament’s promotional campaign at key sites around the London area.
Zurich will join an impressive family of sponsors who are backing the event, which already includes Hilton as well as Sky Sports, who are the supporting sponsor of the £3 million event.
Zurich’s UK Head of Brand, Advertising, Sponsorship and Events, Ben Walton, said: “Golf has a common set of principles, but each course is different and players need to adapt accordingly, focus and be disciplined while maintaining the flexibility to respond to unexpected challenges. That’s exactly Zurich’s approach to business and why we have sponsored events across the global golfing calendar.
“We are incredibly proud to add the British Masters to our golfing portfolio and looking forward to showing the British public how much we truly love golf. It’s an added bonus that our Zurich ambassador Jamie Donaldson will be playing this year too – he will have our full support.”
Donaldson will be hoping for more success on British soil, almost exactly a year after securing the winning point for Europe in The Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
The Welshman has won a European Tour title in each of the last three seasons, and he will be hoping to keep that run going on a course for which he has an affinity.
“I really like Woburn as a course, it’s great,” said Donaldson. “It’s tree-lined, tight, and a traditional British course. I’m really looking forward to playing the British Masters there again.
“Having the British Masters back on The European Tour is a massive boost. We need to get more tournaments in the UK, so the British Masters coming back on the schedule is fantastic. The more the merrier, and having Sky Sports as a sponsor is good for the tournament and for the game. Hopefully this tournament will help get some kids buzzing about golf.”
Donaldson is also looking forward to Zurich, one of his own sponsors, being involved in the British Masters on its return to The European Tour International Schedule for the first time in seven years.
“Zurich are brilliant at supporting golf and they are a great company,” he said. “I’ve worked with them this year for the first time and they’ve been awesome. The more tournaments we can have with them involved the better and hopefully they will enjoy being part of the British Masters.”
Zurich in the UK is part of the global Zurich Insurance Group and provides a suite of general insurance and life insurance products to retail and corporate customers. Based at over 20 locations all across the UK – with large sites in Birmingham, Cardiff, Cheltenham, Farnborough, Glasgow, London, Swindon and Whiteley – Zurich UK employs approximately 7,000 people. For more on Zurich’s involvement in golf, please visit www.zurich.co.uk/golf
European Tour www.europeantour.com
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