Last checked at 23 Feb 2012 07:00
23 February 2012
Parallel Media Group PLC
("PMG" or the "Company")
PMG names exceptional line-up for Ballantine's Championship
PMG, the AIM quoted sports marketing and media group, is pleased to announce that Major Champions Darren Clarke and YE Yang will assist in launching the fifth anniversary of the Ballantine's Championship. They will headline an impressive line-up of star names at Blackstone Golf Club, in the Korean capital, Seoul, from 26th to 29th April 2012.
Open Champion Clarke and 2009 US PGA Champion Yang will be joined by world number eight Adam Scott of Australia, who makes his debut in the event, and world number ten Dustin Johnson, the American Ryder Cup player who finished fourth last year.
Also adding to the vintage will be Spaniard Miguel Angel Jiménez, last year's runner-up, and his Ryder Cup teammate, Ian Poulter, who have amassed an impressive 29 European Tour titles between them.
The world class field, headlined by the six star names unveiled today, underlines the burgeoning reputation of the Ballantine's Championship, which returns to Blackstone Golf Club for a second successive year.
Commenting on the line-up, Christian Porta, CEO of Chivas Brothers, the parent company of the Ballantine's Championship says:
"The Ballantine's Championship has truly established itself as one of Asia's biggest golf tournaments by continuing to attract the world's best players. We are delighted to support this prestigious event as part of our long-term investment in world class golf."
Clarke, who lifted the Claret Jug at Royal St George's last July, is relishing his debut in the tournament, with the Northern Irishman aiming to add the title to his previous success in Asia at the 2008 BMW Asian Open. He will also hope to celebrate the Ballantine's Championship's fifth anniversary by following in the footsteps of compatriot and fellow Major Champion Graeme McDowell, who won the inaugural tournament in 2008.
Darren Clarke, Open Champion says:
"The Ballantine'sChampionship is a new opportunity for me and I am delighted to be taking the Claret Jug with me to this event. Ballantine's put on a fantastic event and I'm sure this year will be no different, if not even better, than years gone by so I'm certainly looking forward to going there and seeing how good the tournament is. It'll be great to go there as the Open Champion.
Chairman of Parallel Media Group, David Ciclitira says:
"We are delighted to announce that Scott, Johnson, Clarke, Jiménez, Poulter, and Yang will all be competing in this year's Ballantine's Championship.
"Having these six great players confirmed, in addition to continued support from existing sponsors which now include Emirates, Omega, Hyundai, Bank of America and Korean Telecom will help ensure that the tournament's new era at Blackstone continues to build on the great foundations laid last year."
In what is testament to the growing strength of one of Asia's most prestigious tournaments, PMG which generates revenue from sponsorship, television and ticket sales for the event, will be announcing new sponsors of this year's tournament in due course.
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For further information, please contact:
Parallel Media Group 020 7225 2000
Alan Carri, Head of Golf 079 7419 9463
Northland Capital Partners 020 7796 8800
Luke Cairns, Edward Hutton
Bishopsgate Communications
Deepali Schneider, Lynne Goulding 020 7562 3350
pmg@bishopsgatecommunications.com