The 2000 Victor Chandler British Masters, to be played at Woburn Golf and Country Club, Milton Keynes, England, on August 10-13, will have a prize fund of £800,000 (approx 1,296,000 euro) - an increase of £100,000 (approx 162,000 euro) - with a first prize of £133,280 (approx 216,000 euro).
Victor Chandler On Course, the United Kingdom's leading independent bookmaker, launched their sponsorship of the British Masters last year when American Bob May finished one shot ahead of Colin Montgomerie. Victor Chandler On Course have also entered into a five year contract to be Official Bookmakers to the European Tour.
Victor Chandler, the grandson of the company's founder, said: "The first Victor Chandler British Masters demonstrated our desire to further progress this prestigious tournament, and to develop an important partnership with the European Tour and Woburn Golf and Country Club. We have established a hyper link between our website and that of the European Tour to further enhance awareness of the company's all-sport betting services.
"As Official Bookmakers to the European Tour our involvement enables golf enthusiasts to take advantage at many Tour venues of all the benefits associated with on-course wagering. These include tax-free 'in-play' golf betting and the opportunity to avail themselves of our comprehensive sportsfolio. The dramatic increase in sports betting in recent years has been well documented, and the 2000 Victor Chandler British Masters will again provide us with the scope to expand our business in this area."
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of the European Tour, said: "We were delighted to welcome Victor Chandler in 1999 to the European Tour family of sponsors, and particularly excited that they entered into a long term partnership by agreeing a five year contract to support the British Masters. The British Masters has a superb history, stretching back to 1946, and we look forward to the 54th edition at Woburn Golf and Country Club."
This will be the 14th occasion that the Woburn Golf and Country Club has hosted the British Masters. Located on the Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire borders on the Bedford Estate, Woburn Golf and Country Club has three 18-hole championship courses, The Duke's, The Duchess and The Marquess, which officially opens this Spring.
In April 1997, European Tour Courses plc entered into an agreement with The Bedford Estate and acquired a 50 per cent interest in Woburn Golf and Country Club Limited. European Tour Courses plc has agreed with the European Tour and IMG (UK) Limited, two of its shareholders, for the British Masters to be staged at Woburn for a minimum period of ten years.
The inaugural British Masters was held in 1946 since when the roll call of champions has included Seve Ballesteros, Bob Charles, Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin, Bernhard Langer, Bobby Locke, Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman, Peter Thomson, Lee Trevino and Ian Woosnam, all winners of major championships, and Colin Montgomerie, the winner of a record seven successive Volvo Order of Merit titles.
