London - MasterCard has been signed up as an official global commercial partner of The Open Championship in Britain, the oldest golf major in the world, in a four-year deal.
As a patron and the official card of The Open, MasterCard is expanding an existing relationship in golf, with the company already sponsoring the PGA Tour, PGA Champions Tour and Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando as well as a number of leading golfers. Financial details of the new agreement have not been disclosed, but the deal will run from The Open in 2012 through to the 2015 edition.
MasterCard, which is also a sponsor of the UEFA Champions League and the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, struck the deal with the R&A, the organising body of The Open. The contract was unveiled just days before the start of The Open Championship 2011 at Sandwich in Kent, with this year’s edition running from this Thursday to Sunday at Royal St George’s Golf Club.
“We are immensely proud to become a global partner of The Open Championship and thrilled to have the chance to bring golf fans from across the world closer to the game,” said MasterCard chief marketing officer Alfredo Gangotena.
“Our association with The Open Championship is a unique opportunity to offer our cardholders priceless access and experiences around the most historic tournament in golf.”
Mike Tate, director of the R&A, added: “MasterCard’s expertise and commitment to heightening the fan experience and long-standing association with golf across the world make it a natural partner for the R&A and The Open Championship.”
The annual tournament is attended by 200,000 spectators each year and enjoys global media exposure in more than 187 countries.
As a patron and the official card of The Open, MasterCard is expanding an existing relationship in golf, with the company already sponsoring the PGA Tour, PGA Champions Tour and Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando as well as a number of leading golfers. Financial details of the new agreement have not been disclosed, but the deal will run from The Open in 2012 through to the 2015 edition.
MasterCard, which is also a sponsor of the UEFA Champions League and the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, struck the deal with the R&A, the organising body of The Open. The contract was unveiled just days before the start of The Open Championship 2011 at Sandwich in Kent, with this year’s edition running from this Thursday to Sunday at Royal St George’s Golf Club.
“We are immensely proud to become a global partner of The Open Championship and thrilled to have the chance to bring golf fans from across the world closer to the game,” said MasterCard chief marketing officer Alfredo Gangotena.
“Our association with The Open Championship is a unique opportunity to offer our cardholders priceless access and experiences around the most historic tournament in golf.”
Mike Tate, director of the R&A, added: “MasterCard’s expertise and commitment to heightening the fan experience and long-standing association with golf across the world make it a natural partner for the R&A and The Open Championship.”
The annual tournament is attended by 200,000 spectators each year and enjoys global media exposure in more than 187 countries.