The Sportsmasters Network (TSN) has
signed an agreement with the Evian Ladies European Tour to sponsor next
week's inaugural Ladies World Cup of Golf at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf
Resort, Co. Limerick, Ireland from September 15-17, 2000.
The TSN Ladies World Cup of Golf has attracted entries from 26 nations and
carries a prize fund of IR£500,000. The deal represents the first investment
into women's golf by the Scots-based Internet company, who currently host
the TSNgolf.com, TSNsport.com and TSNsnooker.com websites.
Announcing the sponsorship deal, TSN chief executive George Smith said: "TSN
has a passion for sport and we have looked very carefully at the sports we
want to be involved with to ensure that they display the hallmarks we think
are important for the people who form part of our sports internet community.
Laura Davies (T), Kathryn Marshall (S) and Trish Johnson (N). LET.
"To this end TSN are delighted to announce their support for the Ladies
World Cup of Golf as title sponsors for the next ten years, and to join with
the Evian Ladies European Tour, CNBC and the other sponsors in bringing
about the inaugural tournament."
In recognition of TSN's sponsorship, Evian Ladies European Tour Chief
Executive, Tim Howland said: "We are extremely fortunate to receive such
emphatic support from TSN for the first ever Ladies World Cup of Golf. It is
truly a global event which will give women's golf across the world a
significant boost."
The event will feature 26 nations and each team will comprise two players.
The format will be 54-hole strokeplay, with prizes going to the leading team
and individual scores.
The team finishing in first place will receive IR£100,000, with IR£60,000
going to the runners-up and IR£40,000 to the team finishing third. The
player with the leading individual 54-hole score will receive a cheque for
IR£25,000.
Commenting on the forthcoming event, Trish Johnson, who with Laura Davies
will form a strong English team, said: "I can't wait to get to Ireland. I
love team golf and Laura (Davies) and I finished second behind Sweden's
Liselotte Neumann and Helen Alfredsson in a similar event in Taiwan a few
years ago.
"Hopefully, we can go one better in Ireland. It's not often that we get the
chance to play for England, and it would be wonderful to bring home the
trophy."
Also likely to be amongst the favourites will be the Scottish team featuring
Kathryn Marshall and Catriona Matthew.
"I'm thrilled to be representing Scotland in the first TSN Ladies' World Cup
of Golf, and to be part of such an exciting new event with so money at
stake," said Marshall.
"My team-mate Catriona (Matthew) and I played together as amateurs so it's
nice to be teaming up again to play for Scotland as professionals."
Both England and Scotland will be pushed hard by the Swedish team of Sophie
Gustafson and Carin Koch, both of whom will be representing Europe in next
month's Solheim Cup.
