It might be the first time the Nordea Masters has visited PGA Sweden National, but The European Tour players have already left their mark on the local area through their charitable efforts.
The players have been helping to raise money for cancer research at Lund University and Medicon Village by donating their fees from Wednesday’s Pro-Am, as well as various other fundraising initiatives.
More than 200 000 SEK (approximately €22,000) has been raised so far, which will be donated to MAD for Cancer – Make a Difference for Cancer, the research programme at the university which is also partly carried out at Medicon Village.
Per Eriksson, Vice-Chancellor of Lund University, said: “This collaboration is an important part of the fundraising campaign that is being run at Lund University. We hope to establish contacts and relationships that can lead to new collaborations and, by extension, philanthropic donations.”
Additionally, some of the Swedish players at the Nordea Masters will be raising money for brain research through a birdie and eagle pledge.
Magnus A Carlsson initiated the challenge, with each player involved donating 100 SEK per birdie (approximately €10) and 500 SEK per eagle (approximately €50) made during the four tournament days.
A similar pledge last year raised nearly 40,000 SEK which was match-funded by sponsor Nordea, resulting in a cheque for 80,000 SEK (€8,800) being presented to Mathias ”Bissen” Larsson, a former Swedish sportsman and the founder of the Bissen Brainwalk, a charity for stroke and other brain related illnesses.
Carlsson said: “A stroke can happen to anyone. Mathias was a great athlete prior to suffering a stroke and has survived thanks to the brain research done in the stroke field”
”If we, the Tour players can contribute for a good cause, nothing is more gratifying than to support brain research, as golf and the brain go hand in hand”
“We all want to find solution for diseases that affects our brain and hopefully our funds will help.”
World Number Two Henrik Stenson, one of the players supporting the challenge, added: “I saw that the boys did it last year and made some money for this good cause, so I was more than happy to get involved this year.
“Hopefully we will all make plenty of birdies and eagles this week and raise as much money as possible.”
