THIS year’s South African Open Golf Championship will be a bird of yet another feather.
As usual a world-class field of players will be gracing the course at Pearl Valley from 18 to 21 December.
Names such as Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Jeev Milka Singh, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy, will be joining South African greats including Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
And of course, reigning champion James Kingston will be there to defend his well-deserved 2007 title.
But what will truly define the 2008 Open is the return of its original name.
South African Airways, who sponsored the tournament since 2002, has restructured its sponsorship portfolio.
Thus Leisurecorp, the owner of Pearl Valley Golf Estates, which will host the championship for the next few years, announced that they will be taking over as chief sponsor for a minimum of the next two South African Open Championships.
During SAA’s sponsorship, the tournament was then known as the SAA Open.
Thus this prestigious golfing event and the second oldest Open in the world, will now only be known as the South African Open.
“When we acquired Pearl Valley Golf Estates, we promised we would do everything we could to make this one of the greatest courses in the world, which would attract the greatest players.
“Our investments in the last year have seen real improvements to the course and I think this is a major reason behind the decision of so many great players to join us this year.
“The South African Open Championship is one of the world’s oldest golf tournaments, and I am delighted we are able to support it so strongly this year,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, Leisurecorp’s parent company.
According to another South African golfing great, David Frost, Pearl Valley is the best golf course in the Cape.
p>As usual a world-class field of players will be gracing the course at Pearl Valley from 18 to 21 December.
Names such as Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Jeev Milka Singh, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy, will be joining South African greats including Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
And of course, reigning champion James Kingston will be there to defend his well-deserved 2007 title.
But what will truly define the 2008 Open is the return of its original name.
South African Airways, who sponsored the tournament since 2002, has restructured its sponsorship portfolio.
Thus Leisurecorp, the owner of Pearl Valley Golf Estates, which will host the championship for the next few years, announced that they will be taking over as chief sponsor for a minimum of the next two South African Open Championships.
During SAA’s sponsorship, the tournament was then known as the SAA Open.
Thus this prestigious golfing event and the second oldest Open in the world, will now only be known as the South African Open.
“When we acquired Pearl Valley Golf Estates, we promised we would do everything we could to make this one of the greatest courses in the world, which would attract the greatest players.
“Our investments in the last year have seen real improvements to the course and I think this is a major reason behind the decision of so many great players to join us this year.
“The South African Open Championship is one of the world’s oldest golf tournaments, and I am delighted we are able to support it so strongly this year,” said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World, Leisurecorp’s parent company.
According to another South African golfing great, David Frost, Pearl Valley is the best golf course in the Cape.
