(Cheshire, England August 6 2004) The Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour announced today the return of an LET event in Denmark after a break of seven years from the tournament schedule.
The LET has signed a three-year deal with tournament promoters ELM (Endorsement and Leisure Management) and the Danish Golf Union (DGU) to host an event in Denmark until 2007 starting from next season.
Financial giants Nykredit will become the title sponsor of the event, which takes place from September 1-4 2005 and which will be known as the Nykredit Masters.
The Nykredit Masters will also form an integral part of the Nordic-wide Volvo Cross Country Challenge which offers a bonus pool of $100,000 for events in the region, with the winner of this mini order of merit receiving a Volvo car and the added bonus of $1million should any player win all of the Volvo Cross Country Challenge events.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to both the Danish Golf Union and to promoters ELM for enabling us to return to Denmark after a break of seven years,” said Ian Randell, chief executive of the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour.
“It was always our ambition to build a complete Nordic element leading up to The Solheim Cup in 2007 and this event is a cornerstone in building the foundation leading up to the biggest event in women’s golf and assisting the development of golf in Denmark.
“I am delighted that we can finally move forward with confidence in Denmark in the coming years and with the foresight shown by the Danish Golf Union and ELM, I am sure the event will form a vital part of the LET schedule for many years to come.”
With powerful media backing in Denmark and the Scandinavian region, the event will be widely publicised in the Nordic Region as TV2, Denmark’s biggest television station will become the national broadcaster and in an agreement with Berlingske Tidende, one of the largest newspapers in Denmark, major commercial support will make this event one of the biggest sporting occasions in the nation.
The financial basis has been secured by Nykredit’s three year engagement and the prize fund in the tournament for the first year will be a minimum of €200,000.
“We consider our involvement in the Danish leg of the Ladies European Tour as a furthering of the fine working relationship we already enjoy with the Danish Golf Union”, said Nels Petersen, Manager of Communications in Nykredit.
Women’s golf in Denmark has received a huge boost over the past few seasons thanks to the emergence of Iben Tinning, a two-time winner on the LET and Solheim Cup player. Tinning has already confirmed her participation in the event next season.
“This is a good initiative and a concept which appears well founded and naturally I am ready to participate and I’m sure it will be highly enjoyable playing in front of my home fans,” said Tinning.
“Undoubtedly, Nykredit Masters will be influential in bringing women’s golf into the limelight and adding interest and possibilities for our young talents, of which there are many in Denmark.”
The venue for next the event will be decided in the near future as LET, ELM and the DGU are in discussions with various courses.
