Saab to Sponsor Wales Open at Celtic Manor

Car manufacturer Saab have become the title sponsors of this year’s European Tour event, the Wales Open, to be held at the Celtic Manor resort which staged last year’s Ryder Cup.

Defending champion and US Open winner Graeme McDowell will  be teeing off with the likes of Miguel Angel Jiménez, Paul McGinley, Ian Poulter and John Daly, all of them among a field of 156 golfers playing for a total prize fund of US$2.94m.

The tournament will form part of Saab Golf Week, encompassing the launch of the new Powerplay Golf format at Celtic Manor on 30th May.

David Pugh, the marketing director of Saab Great Britain, said: “We are very excited to sign up as the title sponsor for the Saab Wales Open at a wonderful venue like The Celtic Manor Resort. We have watched the tournament develop into one of the biggest and most established golf events in Europe and we are delighted to help take it to the next level as the Saab Wales Open. We feel that the innovative sponsorship approach in creating Saab Golf Week, encompassing the exciting launch of PowerPlay Golf’s professional series and the Saab Wales Open, is highly reflective of our brand.”

European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said he was “delighted” by Saab’s involvement, adding: “We look forward to the Saab Wales Open continuing to flourish at The Celtic Manor Resort and on the celebrated Twenty Ten Course where Graeme McDowell’s putt at the 16th more or less set the seal on Europe’s Ryder Cup victory last October. Graeme’s return to Celtic Manor will be eagerly anticipated as he seeks to defend two titles in two weeks when he travels from Wales on to the US Open.”