Record prize money of €3,500,000 has been confirmed for the Volvo Masters Andalucia at Club de Golf Valderrama, Sotogrande, Spain, from October 30 – November 2. The increased prize fund, a rise from €3,136,700 in 2002, matches the new total which was established at the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England, earlier this year.
As entry to the Volvo Masters Andalucia is restricted to the leading 60 players in the Volvo Order of Merit, the tournament will be Europe’’s most valuable tournament ‘per capita’’, on The European Tour International Schedule in 2003.
The 2003 champion will receive a cheque for €583,330 – the same amount which Ignacio Garrido of Spain collected at Wentworth Club in May. In fact, the winner’’s share is greater than the total prize fund at the inaugural Volvo Masters Andalucia, won by Nick Faldo of England in 1988.
This year’’s increase of €363,300 coincides with a revised entry criteria for the Volvo Masters Andalucia. In future, this will reflect the enduring significance of the Volvo Order of Merit, in that the field will consist of a maximum of 60 players drawn exclusively from positions one to 60 on the Volvo Order of Merit following the Telefonica Open de Madrid, which concludes on Sunday, October 26.
With no 36 hole cut, the player finishing tenth will receive €77,000, 30th will earn €32,550 and the player finishing in 60th position is guaranteed a purse of €10,850.
Commenting on the increase, Mel Pyatt, CEO of Volvo Event Management, said: “There are many elements that go towards creating great tournaments, and prize money is obviously amongst the most important. I am therefore delighted that the Volvo Masters Andalucia is able to maintain its leading position on The European Tour International Schedule.
“This increase, together with our successful return to Valderrama last year, an elite field of 60 players, plus the tremendous support from the Junta de Andalucia, has created the platform from which the Volvo Masters Andalucia will continue to build on its enviable position as one of the world’’s outstanding tournaments.”
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: “We are delighted that the prize fund for the 2003 Volvo Masters Andalucia has increased by 11 per cent, bringing it in line with the Volvo PGA Championship at €3,500,000. It is reassuring to know that two of the most highly sought after titles on The European Tour International Schedule are now worth a combined €7,000,000, with the first prizes jointly totalling in excess of €1,000,000.
“This announcement is another significant development in the Tour’’s enduring relationship with Volvo and further enhances the status of this prestigious tournament, which brings our season to an exciting climax at one of the world’’s great golf courses.”
Antonio Ortega, Consejero de Turismo y Deporte de la Junta de Andalucia, said: “We are proud of our involvement in the Volvo Masters Andalucia, which has ensured that the name of Andalucia is extended beyond the boundaries of Spain. This is a very important element in our Sport and Tourism programme.
“Such is the interest in the Volvo Masters Andalucia that all lovers of the game will want to be at Club de Golf Valderrama for the four days of competition. We are happy to be supporting this initiative, which develops tourism and consolidates Andalucia as a leading sporting venue.”
Last year, Bernhard Langer of Germany and Colin Montgomerie of Scotland shared the title after a two hole sudden-death play-off failed to separate the pair, who had tied on a three under par total of 281. Due to the fading light, Langer and Montgomerie agreed to share the title.
Montgomerie expressed his delight that this year’’s prize fund will reach €3,500,000 and that Valderrama will again host the end of season finale. He said: “It is great news that the Volvo Masters Andalucia will be staged once again at Club de Golf Valderrama with an increased prize fund.
“It is a lovely part of the world and the golf course is in great condition. It takes a lot of money and effort to produce a golf course like that and it is a wonderful place to play our finale at the end of the year.
“I am fully behind the decision to change the qualification process this year so that it is just the top 60 players on the Volvo Order of Merit who compete. I am very much looking forward to going back and I sincerely hope that Bernhard is in the top 60 at the end of the year too so that both defending champions can tee up.”
This year’’s field is already shaping up impressively, with a classic contest in prospect for the 2003 Volvo Order of Merit title at Valderrama thanks to Darren Clarke’’s magnificent victory in the World Golf Championships – NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio, which propelled him into second place and with an outstanding chance of improving on his runner-up finish behind close friend, Lee Westwood, in 2000.
Many of the emerging ‘new breed’’ on The European Tour are also hard on the heels of the leaders, including Paul Casey and Brian Davis of England, Scotland’’s Alastair Forsyth, South Africa’’s Trevor Immelman, Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden, Ian Poulter of England and Australian Adam Scott.
Meanwhile several leading players including Sergio Garcia of Spain and co-defending champion, Langer, are currently just outside the top 60 and trying to force their way into the field over the next few weeks.
In order to help the public buy tickets in advance of the tournament, admission passes can now be bought on line through www.sponsorship.volvo.com.
