The Ladies’ European Tour will feature a new tournament in Sweden next summer. The Helsingborg Open will be played at Vasatorp Golf Course for the next three years.
”It’s strategically important for Swedish golf that we once again can present a LET tournament in Sweden. Historically the tournament has been an inspiration for younger players and that we now are able to see our Swedish stars at home will inspire young talents even more,” said SGF General Secretary, Gunnar Håkansson.
Thanks to the cooperation between the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF) and IEC in sports, the tournament has been secured for the next three years, starting in September 2013.
”This is an important step in IEC’s investment in the Ladies European Tour, where we are responsible for the international media distribution,” said Max Kållberg, CEO of IEC in Sports. “IEC’s hope is to put the LET on the map as one of the leading tours in the world. Given all of the world class players that Sweden has produced and still has, this is a natural step.”
The date, September 5-8, is ideally placed in the calendar to attract a strong field of competitors, played the week before The Evian Championship, which is the final major of the year.
The Helsingborg Open will be played in the stroke play format over 72 holes with a prize fund of €250,000.
Despite a long golfing tradition, there has not been a Ladies European Tour event in Sweden since the Scandinavian TPC in 2008, the same year that the Goteborg Masters was played. The first European Tour event in Sweden was played in 1985 and the year after, Lotta Neumann was the first home winner. The country also hosted The Solheim Cup twice, in 2003 and 2007.
Alexandra Armas, executive director of the LET, hailed the tournament as a great step forward. “The Ladies European Tour is extremely pleased to announce its return in 2013 to Sweden. This nation is steeped in women’s golfing history and it is entirely fitting that the spotlight will be returning next year. Vasatorp Golf Club in Helsingborg has previously hosted the Ladies European Tour in 2002 when Sweden’s own Annika Sörenstam emerged victorious and we are delighted to be returning once again with strong support from the region. We look forward to working with the Swedish Golf Federation, Partners and all concerned to ensure that this tournament is a great success.”
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For more information contact Beth Engblom, project director for the Helsingborg Open: +46 8 622 15 00 Mobile +46 708 196403; beth.engblom@golf.se
