Standard Chartered clinches Abu Dhabi Golf Championship sponsorship

The championship, part of the European PGA Tour and staged by IMG, offers USD 2 million prize money when it will be played at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club by Sheraton January 19 to 22.

Announcing the deal, Jeremy Parrish, Chief Executive, Standard Chartered Abu Dhabi & Al-Ain said, "The global appeal of the European Tour and Abu Dhabi's ambitious advent in the world of major sporting events form an ideal sponsorship partnership for Standard Chartered Bank."

The Championship has become one of 49 tournaments from 24 countries on the 2006 European Tour schedule. A maximum of 120 players will tee off in the 72 hole stroke play event with four rounds being played over four days, the cut being made after 36 holes to the top 65 and ties. The inaugural Championship will be broadcast to more than 300 million households across 60 countries.

"By associating Standard Chartered Bank with such a high profile sporting event, watching John Daly, Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia and Thomas Bjorn battle it out, gives our brand tremendous exposure and improves its appeal among our premier audiences in the Middle East and internationally," said Ferguson.

It's the latest in the long list of key sporting sponsorship deals clinched by Standard Chartered in the Middle East. The bank has also embraced highly popular sports in the region, including cricket and rugby tournaments as well as its own Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, Friday January 6.

"Partnering Abu Dhabi's premier tourism drive is a key objective of our company and this sponsorship presents us with a great opportunity to highlight our commitment to the UAE capital's growth."

Standard Chartered joins the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Ettihad, Aldar, Adnoc as the primary sponsors of the event.