Record prize money of €3,000,000 has been announced for the Deutsche Bank – SAP TPC of Europe to be played at St Leon-Rot near Heidelberg, Germany, from 20-23 May, 2004. Reigning Volvo Order of Merit winner, Ernie Els, has already confirmed his place in the field chasing the €500,000 first prize.
The prize fund shows an increase of €300,000 on 2003, when Ireland’’s Padraig Harrington beat Thomas Björn of Denmark at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off in Hamburg to capture the title. Victory was worth €450,000 to Harrington - €50,000 less than the winner will receive in May this year.
Harrington and Zimbabwe’’s Nick Price have also confirmed their participation in the tournament, which returns to St Leon-Rot, where World Number One, Tiger Woods, triumphed in 1999, 2001 and 2002.
Els. who missed last year’’s event due to a wrist injury, said: “I promised the fans last year that I would start in St Leon-Rot. It is my aim to capture the title of Tournament Players’’ Champion of Europe.”
Harrington commented: “The victory last year was one of the greatest of my career and it was an overwhelming feeling to win one of Europe’’s most important tournaments. I will do all I can to defend this title.”
Four recent German champions on The European Tour International Schedule will be in the line-up in Heidelberg, notably Europe’’s Ryder Cup Captain, Bernhard Langer, who won the title in 1995, along with Alex Cejka, Tobias Dier and Marcel Siem. The latter was the most recent winner of a title, capturing the dunhill championship in South Africa last month.
The two title sponsors, Deutsche Bank AG and SAP AG, are particularly happy about the excellent field that will enable them to present the spectators world-class sport live in St. Leon-Rot.
Those who prefer to book their entrance tickets well in advance – the finals were sold out the last time the golfing stars played in St. Leon-Rot - can order tickets on the Ticket-Hotline 01 80 – 50 100 20 throughout Germany (6 cent per minute using the terrestrial network; via mobile phone and from abroad on +49 - (0) 40 – 30 05 13 63) or from more than 5,000 travel agencies and advance booking offices all over the federal territory or via Internet at www.deutschebank-sap-open.de. The tickets are limited to 20,000 per day in order to ensure that each fan can watch his or her stars from very close. However, to give last-minute visitors the opportunity to be there, the box offices will have a minimum of 5,000 tickets available daily.
