Gunship
12th Dec 2002, 13:18
News 24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Golf/0,1231,2-9-29_1297119,00.html)
Cape Town - Lee Westwood has added his name to a growing list of top international golfers who will be competing in next year's South African Airways Open Championship at Erinvale Golf Club.
Westwood has confirmed his participation in the £500 000 championship from January 9-12 and which is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and European Tour.
England's Justin Rose and South African Trevor Immelman also confirmed their participation this week.
Westwood has always performed well in South Africa, and will return to these fairways seeking similar inspiration to end a dip in form over the past two years which has seen him go from European number one to 75th on the European Tour's Volvo Order of Merit at the end of 2002.
In 2000, Westwood won the Sunshine Tour's Dimension Data Pro-Am on his way to capturing seven titles that year and lifting the Volvo Order of Merit title from Colin Montgomerie.
Westwood's six victories on the European Tour in 2000 saw him equal the record of wins in Europe in one year set by Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Montgomerie.
Westwood's victory on the Sunshine Tour that year also saw him gain the status of being a truly global player with wins on every continent.
Later in 2000, Westwood lost a play-off with Ernie Els for the Nedbank Golf Challenge title.
"The field for the South African Airways Open Championship is starting to fall into place as more and more top international golfers confirm their participation in this prestigious tournament," said Louis Martin, the Chief Executive of the Sunshine Tour.
"Lee has long been a supporter of the Sunshine Tour and it will be wonderful to have a player of his calibre teeing it up at Erinvale."
Andre Viljoen, President and Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, said the presence of Westwood in the field confirmed the international status of the championship and its continued association with the high profile names in world golf.
"The participation of Lee Westwood is a reflection of the prestige this event holds worldwide. As the new title sponsor, our goal is for the South African Airways Open Championship to establish itself as a major event on the European Tour," said Viljoen.
:eek: "SAA aims to take the championship to new heights where we hope to continue to improve on the calibre of the players in the field." :eek:
Cape Town - Lee Westwood has added his name to a growing list of top international golfers who will be competing in next year's South African Airways Open Championship at Erinvale Golf Club.
Westwood has confirmed his participation in the £500 000 championship from January 9-12 and which is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and European Tour.
England's Justin Rose and South African Trevor Immelman also confirmed their participation this week.
Westwood has always performed well in South Africa, and will return to these fairways seeking similar inspiration to end a dip in form over the past two years which has seen him go from European number one to 75th on the European Tour's Volvo Order of Merit at the end of 2002.
In 2000, Westwood won the Sunshine Tour's Dimension Data Pro-Am on his way to capturing seven titles that year and lifting the Volvo Order of Merit title from Colin Montgomerie.
Westwood's six victories on the European Tour in 2000 saw him equal the record of wins in Europe in one year set by Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Montgomerie.
Westwood's victory on the Sunshine Tour that year also saw him gain the status of being a truly global player with wins on every continent.
Later in 2000, Westwood lost a play-off with Ernie Els for the Nedbank Golf Challenge title.
"The field for the South African Airways Open Championship is starting to fall into place as more and more top international golfers confirm their participation in this prestigious tournament," said Louis Martin, the Chief Executive of the Sunshine Tour.
"Lee has long been a supporter of the Sunshine Tour and it will be wonderful to have a player of his calibre teeing it up at Erinvale."
Andre Viljoen, President and Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, said the presence of Westwood in the field confirmed the international status of the championship and its continued association with the high profile names in world golf.
"The participation of Lee Westwood is a reflection of the prestige this event holds worldwide. As the new title sponsor, our goal is for the South African Airways Open Championship to establish itself as a major event on the European Tour," said Viljoen.
:eek: "SAA aims to take the championship to new heights where we hope to continue to improve on the calibre of the players in the field." :eek: