Melbourne, 21 June 2010: The PGA of Australia today announced a joint-venture partnership with World Sport Group (WSG) for the Australian PGA Championship, Australia's oldest professional golf tournament.
Commencing this year, the five-year agreement will see WSG assist in the delivery of sponsorship and television coverage, as well as professional management and organisation for this season-ending championship on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and the OneAsia tour.
This year, the Australian PGA Championship offers a prize purse of AUS $1.5 million (approximately US$1.3 million) and will be played from December 9th to 12th at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, its home for nearly a decade.
"The Australian PGA Championship is the oldest professional event on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, and our engagement with World Sport Group will ensure the future prosperity of this event for at least the next five years," said Max Garske, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Australia.
"World Sport Group is Asia's leading sports marketing, media and event management company, and their expertise will afford the Australian PGA Championship many new opportunities that will compliment its co-sanctioning with OneAsia."
"We are delighted to have forged this long term partnership relating to the Australian PGA Championship, one of Australia's premier golf events and a highlight on OneAsia's calendar. Together with the PGA of Australia, we are committed to continue growing the stature of this prestigious tournament, and delivering a world-class event for sponsors and fans," said Mark Hardess, President, ASEAN & Australia, World Sport Group.
WSG's impressive portfolio of golf events already includes the US$5 million Barclays Singapore Open, the US$1.25 million Hero Honda Indian Open and the U$1.3 million Australian Open.
To assist with the operational management of the tournament, WSG and the PGA of Australia have appointed Australia's leading golf promoter TRP Sports as event organisers.
Australian Robert Allenby claimed the Australian PGA Championship last year, having already won the title three times before in 2000, 2001 and 2005. Other past winners include Seve Ballesteros, Geoff Ogilvy and Peter Senior.
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For more information, please contact:
Nicole Powell - PGA of Australia
P: +61 3 8320 1993
npowell@pga.org.au
Shyamala Velappan - World Sport Group
P: +65 6826 2688
s.velappan@worldsportgroup.com.sg
About the Australian PGA Championship
Australia's oldest professional golf tournament, the Australian PGA Championship boasts an incredible list of past champions with recent winners including Robert Allenby (2009), Geoff Ogilvy (2008), and Peter Lonard (2007). Renowned as the players' favourite Australian tournament, the Australian PGA Championship is the PGA of Australia's flagship event and is the final event on both the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia schedules. The 2010 Australian PGA Championship will be played at the Hyatt Regency Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast from December 9-12.
http://www.pga.org.au
About World Sport Group
Headquartered in Singapore, World Sport Group is Asia's leading sports marketing, media and event management company, with a roster of football, golf and cricket events. The company features almost 600 days of sports events and more than 1000 hours of sports programming annually, across more than 30 countries in the region. It is the exclusive marketing partner of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and a major stake-holder in Asian golf. The Group is also the global marketing and media partners of OneAsia and the exclusive global media partner of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
http://www.worldsportgroup.com