Novotel and Perrier are to become the new title sponsors of the Open de France to be held on May 6-9.
The Federation Francaise de Golf announced today that Novotel Perrier will sponsor the Open de France for the next three years. Organisers of the event in 1999 will be Kalika, headed by Bernard Pascassio, and the total prize fund will be 850,000 euro.
The Novotel Perrier Open de France, the oldest tournament in continental Europe, will be played at Golf du Médoc, the first time the event has been played in Bordeaux.
Bernard Pascassio said: "Novotel and Perrier have had a happy golf marriage with the special event, the Open Novotel Perrier, a unique pairs tournament. To take over the Open de France is a heavy responsibility but the challenge is fascinating."
Ken Schofield CBE, Executive Director of the European Tour, said: "The Open de France, dating as it does from 1906, is the senior continental Open, and we are delighted that a new chapter in its history will begin this year with Novotel and Perrier the new title sponsors and the Championship being played in the Bordeaux area for the first time.
"The Open Novotel Perrier has, of course, been played at Golf du Médoc since 1996. It has a links feel to it with fast, undulating greens and I know that those Members who have played in past Open Novotel Perrier tournaments very much enjoyed the challenge.
"I would like to express a sincere appreciation to Novotel and Perrier for their generous support and to the French Golf Federation and Kalika for their commitment."
Arnaud Massey was the first champion of the Open de France in 1906 and the following year he became the first overseas winner of the Open Championship. After Massey, J H Taylor, James Braid, George Duncan, Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Roberto de Vicenzo, Bobby Locke and Kel Nagle all became winners of both the British and French Opens.
Since the birth of the European Tour that pattern has continued with Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo all winning both the Open Golf Championship and the French Open.
In 1998 Sam Torrance won the title, his first win since 1995 and 21st European Tour victory in total
