Investec has announced that it has secured the title sponsorship of the SA Open for the next four years.
The world’s second-oldest national Open is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the local Sunshine Tour and this year will see 156 professionals competing for a significant minimum prize fund of $1.5 million.
The 2022 Investec South African Open will be played at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate in Johannesburg in early December, with a final date to be confirmed.
“Investec is an organisation firmly rooted in South Africa and, as title sponsor of both South African Opens, we believe we can continue to contribute to a game so many are passionate about,” said Peta Dixon, Investec’s Head of Sponsorships. “The most powerful possibilities are human and so it is with great pride that we also announce our commitment to the Sunshine Tour Transformation Class for a three-year period. As the official patron, we will work alongside the Sunshine Tour to help close the gap between young talent becoming professional players, ensuring that, when the time comes, each player is suitably equipped to perform on the professional circuit.”
Investec is already the headline sponsor of the SA Women’s Open, as part of an eight-year partnership through to 2025, and has been involved in golf since 2008, whilst it currently sponsors four South African professionals – Lejan Lewthwaite, Nicole Garcia, Stacy Bregman and Zethu Myeki – as well as Irish player Stephanie Meadow.
“The SA Open Championship is a prestigious tournament, unmatched in South Africa’s golf history, with the best of the best competing for honours,” said Investec Chief Marketing Officer, Abey Mokgwatsane. “The possibilities that this tournament provides golfers to achieve their full potential at the top tier of their profession is unrivalled.”
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“The South African Open has distinguished itself as one of the most prized titles in world golf with a legacy of champions which includes some of the greatest names in the game,” said Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour. “We are proud to have our national Open associated with a sponsor that exudes the same spirit of excellence and professionalism for which this championship is known, and which adds significantly to the legacy of this great event. Investec’s further support of our Sunshine Tour Transformation Class is an incredible investment on their part in the future potential of South African golf and aligns perfectly with our own vision that ‘Greatness Begins Here’ on the Sunshine Tour.”
Ben Cowen, DP World Tour Chief Tournament Business Officer, said: “The South African Open has always been a special championship on our international schedule and Investec’s support adds to its great history. The timing of this sponsorship couldn’t be more relevant, with the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour enhancing our already long-standing relationship with more co-sanctioned tournaments, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership further.”