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Volvo Golf Champions Increases Prize Fund For 2014
VOLVO GOLF CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCES MORE THAN 50% INCREASE IN PRIZE FUND FOR 20145th November, 2013 - The Volvo Golf Champions, The European Tour's elite 'Tournament of Champions', today announced an increase in the prize fund of more than 50% to USD 4 million ( approximately USD 2.6 million in 2013), reinforcing the Championship's position as one of the most prestigious tournaments on The European Tour International Schedule. Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen confirms his participation at the Durban Country Club from the 9th to 12th January 2014, with many more Champions of the European Tour to be added over the coming weeks. The exclusive, limited-field event of Champions who qualify for the 2014 Tournament will now enjoy a substantial head start over their peers at the beginning of the year. The elite group of players will battle it out for their share of the USD 4 million prize fund at the start of the season when so many players are looking to secure their entry into the other big events such as The Masters and stake their claim to a place on the 2014 European Ryder Cup team. The increased prize fund means the winner will receive a cheque for USD 700,000 with every last player in the field richly rewarded for qualifying for this prestigious tournament and receiving a welcome boost to their standing on the Race to Dubai Rankings. As a result the Volvo Golf Champions prize fund is one of the top few on the European Tour, excluding WGC events and Majors. Louis Oosthuizen, confirmed to defend his title, commented on hearing the news, 'It is fantastic for South Africa to get to host the European Tour's 'Tournament of Champions' again. It is an impressive boost to the prize fund and I am delighted to be defending my title at the Durban Country Club – I love the course and enjoy the advantage of playing in front of my home crowd. I look forward to opening my season there very much." Only European Tour players who have won an event on the previous year's International Schedule and current Tour Members with more than ten European Tour victories qualify and Tournament organisers IMG and Volvo will announce more of these players in the coming weeks once the 2013 season ends and entries open for the 2014 season tournaments. The Championship is returning for the second consecutive year to the Province of KwaZulu-Natal and to the magnificent Durban Country Club. The Championship is being supported by the Provincial Government's Department for Economic Develop and Tourism, who began a relationship with the Event in 2013 having understood the tourism and business benefits of hosting the Tournament in the Province. Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management, said: "We are thrilled to make this announcement underlining the prestige of our Championship and its key position on the European Tour schedule. As this event is a very important sales and marketing platform for the Volvo brand, we will soon be revealing some amazing Hole-in-One prizes which will continue our innovative approach from last year." Guy Kinnings, Global Head of Golf, IMG, the tournament's co-owners, said: "This is a very exciting announcement for the Volvo Golf Champions and it's clear that players qualifying for the Tournament have a great opportunity to get their season off the a flying start. We have had such good feedback from the players about their experiences in KwaZulu-Natal during the Volvo Golf Champions in January, I know that all the players qualifying will be absolutely delighted by this announcement and is yet more evidence of Volvo's tremendous support of the European Tour." George O'Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: "Volvo have been a loyal and generous sponsor of The European Tour for more 25 years and this substantially increased prize fund is another example of their commitment to both this event and golf in general. The Volvo Golf Champions has quickly established itself on the European Tour schedule and we expect another strong field of winners from 2013 to compete in South Africa in January." Thomas Björn, Chairman of the European Tour Player Committee and speaking on behalf of the players said, "The players are very grateful to Volvo for all they have contributed to our Tour and I believe that this increase in prize money will make this year opening event a 'must play' for those players hoping to qualify for the European Ryder Cup team. The Volvo Golf Champions is a very prestigious event on our schedule and one that everyone wants to qualify for." The same week, the World Final of the Volvo World Golf Challenge – Volvo's global tournament for customers – will be contested in Durban. In what is a genuine 'money can't buy' experience, the top finishers from the World Final get the chance to play together with the stars of The European Tour on the Friday of the Volvo Golf Champions, live on television, in front of a worldwide audience of millions. It's called 'Playing with the Pros' – an opportunity that exists nowhere else in golf. PHOTO: For more information, please visit www.volvoingolf.com or contact Lali Stander on +27 82 990 7150 or [email protected]. Volvo in Golf For more than a quarter of a century, Volvo In Golf has been an ever-growing and powerful presence in world sport. Since joining forces with the European Tour in 1988, the company has regularly refreshed and re-invigorated its events, and so too the resulting media interest and impact. With golf and its values serving as the perfect common ground, this unbroken partnership has enabled the building and strengthening of relationships between Volvo and its customers of today and tomorrow. And as the Tour has spread its boundaries and become truly global, so too have the presence and awareness of the Volvo brand and its premium-quality products. Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo Event Management operates on behalf of both Volvo Cars and the Volvo Group, running three prestigious professional tournaments as well as the leading worldwide event for customers. This unique and wide-ranging collection links professional and club golf together. About IMG IMG Worldwide is a global sports, fashion and media business, with 3,500 employees operating in more than 30 countries around the globe. IMG's areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG's Joint Ventures in India, Brazil, China and Turkey; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Golf and IMG Tennis; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academy; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.imgworld.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About KZN The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority, trading as Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN), was established in terms of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Act, 1996 as amended by Act No. 2 of 2002. In terms of the aforementioned Act, TKZN is responsible directly and indirectly for the development, promotion and marketing of tourism into and within the province. Prior to 1994, tourism marketing was a function of national government. However, following the installation of a democratic national government in that year, this responsibility was devolved to the provinces. Provinces are now responsible for both tourism product development and the marketing of their regions both domestically and internationally. At the national level the Department of Tourism utilises South African Tourism as its marketing arm with its role to market the country generically to international markets. The vision of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal is to position the Province of KwaZulu-Natal as Africa's leading tourism destination, nationally and internationally. The mission of this organisation is to initiate, facilitate, co-ordinate and implement:
This grows tourism and thereby serving to achieve:
The Zulu Kingdom or the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is an enticing, spectacular and fascinating multi-cultural showpiece destination flanked by warm Indian Ocean and soaring peaks. KwaZulu-Natal is South Africa's most popular tourism destination, highly popular among visitors from throughout continental Africa and increasingly on the 'must-see, must- do' lists of discerning travelers. These travelers from all points of the globe seek and find a unique blend of sophistication, cultural diversity and excitement – in the most breathtaking setting imaginable. About Durban Country Club It's not surprising that this excellent layout has been chosen to host the South African Open more often than any other courses – a total of 17 times, including the centennial event in 2010. The Club has recently appointed renowned golf course designer, Peter Matkovich, to ensure the course is in championship condition for the Volvo Golf Champions. A combination of lush vegetation, sand dunes and stunning views of the Indian Ocean make this course both scenic and challenging. The design includes a pleasant mix of tall trees, thick bush, severe slopes and punishing bunkers, thus providing even the most discerning golfer with a demanding round of golf. It is a shot maker's course and players are required to think their way around it. Durban Country Club provides the golfer with an opportunity to experience one of the finest and most unique golf courses in existence. |
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