The European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative has raised a total of £623,120 for local, national and international charitable causes in its first six weeks, and will continue to underpin the 2020 Race to Dubai season.
The European Tour’s Golf for Good initiative has raised a total of £623,120 for local, national and international charitable causes in its first six weeks, and will continue to underpin the 2020 Race to Dubai season.
Golf for Good launched at the six-tournament UK Swing, which concluded on Sunday as Rasmus Højgaard claimed the ISPS HANDA UK Championship title at The Belfry. The Dane’s victory meant he finished in number one position on the UK Swing Mini-Rankings, pipping Englishman Sam Horsfield – who won twice during the six-week period - to the top spot.
The top ten players in the rankings were rewarded with a share of the £250,000 Charity Bonus Pool, to donate to charities of their choice. Højgaard opted to split his winning share of £60,000 between the Child Cancer Foundation and Ronald McDonald House, both in his native Denmark.
In addition to the Charity Bonus Pool, the European Tour also donated £50,000 to each UK Swing host venue to be distributed to local, national and international charities of their choice.
With Betfred offering extra charitable donations totalling £87,385 to the Graham Wylie Foundation during the Betfred British Masters, and 2018 Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn also raising £35,735 through his 210km #WentworthtoWales walk, the total sum throughout the opening six weeks of the campaign was £623,120.
In addition to the funds raised by the European Tour, each week thousands of Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls were donated to local junior academies, with approximately 10,800 balls being distributed throughout the UK Swing.
Meanwhile, a true hero of the pandemic was rewarded each tournament week with, among other prizes, a year’s Membership of the relevant host venue, a year’s supply of Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls and a surprise Zoom call from a European Tour star.
Golf for Good aims to give back in three key areas - supporting the communities where the European Tour plays, rewarding the true heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the front line workers, and promoting the many health benefits that golf offers.
Through a variety of activations and fundraising initiatives, the European Tour aimed to make an impact upon the local areas it visited during the UK Swing, and will continue in that drive for the remainder of the 2020 campaign.
See below for the full details on all of the Golf for Good initiatives and donations during the UK Swing:
‘UK Swing’ Mini Order of Merit – For players to donate to charities of their choice
| Position | Player | £ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rasmus Højgaard | £60,000 |
| 2 | Sam Horsfield | £50,000 |
| 3 | Andy Sullivan | £40,000 |
| 4 | Thomas Detry | £30,000 |
| 5 | Renato Paratore | £20,000 |
| 6 | Romain Langasque | £10,000 |
| 7 | Sam Välimäki | £10,000 |
| 8 | Adrian Otaegui | £10,000 |
| 9 | Justin Walters | £10,000 |
| 10 | Matthew Jordan | £10,000 |
| £250,000 |
European Tour donations to venues
| Venue | Donation |
|---|---|
| Close House | £50,000 |
| Marriott Forest of Arden | £50,000 |
| Marriott Hanbury Manor | £50,000 |
| The Celtic Manor Resort | £50,000 |
| The Belfry | £50,000 |
| Total | £250,000 |
Total weekly funds raised
| Tournament | £ |
|---|---|
| Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood | £137,385 |
| Hero Open | £50,000 |
| English Championship | £50,000 |
| Celtic Classic | £60,735 |
| ISPS HANDA Wales Open | £25,000 |
| ISPS HANDA UK Championship | £50,000 |
| Total | £373,120 |
Tournament venue’s chosen charities:
Close House Golf Club:
£50,000, Sir Graham Wylie Foundation (Official Charity of the Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood)
Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club:
1st donation: £20,000, Blood Cancer UK
2nd donation: £15,000, Newlife
3rd donation: £15,000, Birmingham Mind
Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel and Country Club:
1st donation: £12,500, Teenage Cancer Trust
2nd donation: £12,500, Isabel Hospice
3rd donation: £12,500, Teens Unite
4th donation: £12,500, Dementia Adventure
Celtic Manor Resort/ISPS HANDA (Celtic Classic & ISPS HANDA Wales Open):
1st donation: £25,000, Invictus Games
2nd donation: £12,500, St David’s Hospice Care
3rd donation: £12,500, Raven House Trust
Thomas Bjørn #Wentworth2Wales Walk: £35,735, UNICEF and Golf Foundation
The Belfry/ISPS HANDA (ISPS HANDA UK Championship):
1st donation: £25,000, Invictus Games
2nd donation: £12,500, Matt Hampson Foundation
3rd donation: £12,500, The Cure Parkinson's Trust
Total Callaway golf balls donated
| Tournament | Donated to | No, of balls |
|---|---|---|
| Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood | Hexham Golf Club City of Newcastle GC Westerhope Golf Club Morpeth Golf Club Tynemouth GC Durham City Golf Club – Junior | 3,000 |
| Hero Open | AL Golf Junior Academies – Hatchbrook Golf Centre | 1,200 |
| English Championship | Hertfordshire Junior Golf Section | 1,200 |
| Celtic Classic | Wales Mini Masters | 1,200 |
| ISPS HANDA Wales Open | Llantrisant & Pontyclun Golf Club | 1,200 |
| ISPS HANDA UK Championship | The Belfry Junior Golf Academy | 3,000 |
| Total | 10,800 |
Heroes initiative: #GolfForGood: Nominate everyday heroes for unforgettable prizes
Each week of the UK Swing, the European Tour rewarded an everyday hero, each of whom were nominated by friends and family for their tireless efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood
Winning nominee: Nick Cassidy, charity worker – Newcastle Utd Foundation
Watch Nick’s surprise Zoom call with tournament host Lee Westwood
Hero Open
Winning nominee: Wayne Duke, frontline paramedic
Wayne was told about his win in a Zoo call with Tommy Fleetwood – watch here
English Championship
Winning nominee: Scott Day, factor worker – Ford Ventilators
Andy Sullivan surprised Scott with a Zoom call moments after winning the English Championship – watch here
Celtic Classic
Winning nominee: Dewi Frelford, postman
Watch as Thomas Bjørn surprised Dewi after completing his 210km #Wentworth2Wales charity walk
Winning nominee: Heidi Price
Watch as Heidi heard about her nomination in a Zoom call with Major winner Graeme McDowell
ISPS HANDA UK Championship
Winning nominee: Dr Avraj Ghaly – NHS doctor
Dr Avraj received a surprise Zoom call from Matt Wallace
