PING strengthened their commitment to The 2019 Solheim Cup today, announcing that their support of the biennial match will now extend to being the Official Event Apparel Supplier.
PING will provide all volunteers, staff and officials with clothing and uniforms across the event and will sponsor and exclusively supply product to the PING Golf Zone in the spectator village.
PING apparel combines the latest technology, state-of-the art fabrics and production methods, alongside luxury materials and craftsmanship, to provide unrivaled quality and performance. This technology will be put to good use regardless of the weather next September.
Karsten Solheim, founder of the revolutionary equipment company PING, and his wife Louise, were staunch supporters of women’s golf and having observed the popularity of the Ryder Cup, decided it was time to create a women’s version. Thanks to their vision in 1990, the Solheim Cup was played for the first time at Lake Nona Golf club in Orlando, Florida and it has since grown into one of the world’s most compelling sporting events.
With each event, they took great pride in watching it grow in popularity. Karsten died in 2000 at the age of 88 and last year’s Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, was the first played since Louise passed away earlier in the year at 99.
John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe, commented, “We are delighted to extend our support to supplying apparel for The 2019 Solheim Cup match at Gleneagles, Scotland. Adding official apparel to our sponsorship contribution is a natural extension of all we do in women’s golf. We are wholeheartedly committed to the Solheim Cup and we are delighted to use the event to showcase the superb range of clothing that PING now provides.”
Ross Hallett, IMG Executive Tournament Director added, “The importance of the Solheim family’s generous contributions to golf over the past quarter of a century cannot be expressed in one short statement. We welcome their extraordinary commitment to the women’s game and look forward to working hand-in-hand with PING to deliver what we aim to be the best Solheim Cup to date.”
Paul Bush, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “I’m delighted that PING has come on board as the Official Supplier of Event Apparel for The 2019 Solheim Cup. As an organisation, they share Scotland’s commitment to raising the international profile of women’s golf and delivering a world-class event at Gleneagles in September 2019.”
The recently appointed European Captain and VisitScotland Ambassador, Catriona Matthew, will be looking to return the trophy to Europe in 2019 after an inspired USA team retained their trophy by 16 ½ to 11 ½ points, in front of record crowds in Iowa. Organisers are now aiming to set a new record for a European edition in 2019.
Themes of equality, innovation and experience will be threaded through all the event’s communications as The 2019 Solheim Cup aims to engage both the traditional golf audience and the wider sport fan, raising the profile of women’s golf both in Scotland and internationally.
The Scottish Government and VisitScotland have been long-time supporters of the women’s game, having partnered with the Ricoh Women’s British Open and the recently significantly enhanced Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, which took place as a co-sanctioned LET and LPGA event for the first time last year.
The 2019 Solheim Cup will not only showcase the stunning assets of Scotland, the Home of Golf, but also build on the legacy of the successful 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. It will underline that Scotland is the perfect stage for major golf events as it seeks to help inspire a new generation of children to take up the game invented in their home country.