Footjoy Sponsor European Tour’s Race to Dubai Final Event

US golf apparel brand Footjoy has agreed a deal to sponsor the 2012 DP World Tour Championship as part of a three-year agreement between Dubai-based sports wholesale distribution company ProSports International and the $8 million tournament.

Footjoy – which is part of the US-based Acushnet Inc, hospital owners of another major golf brand “Titleist” – is one of the most recognised names in world golf having been involved in the industry for nearly 150 years. This will be its first commercial partnership with the final event on The European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

Footjoy are also partners of The European Tour and The Ryder Cup, while the company’s stable of Footjoy Ambassadors include 2009 Race to Dubai winner Lee Westwood and reigning Omega Dubai Desert Classic Champion Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

“We are very proud to have Footjoy chosen as the Official Merchandise Partner of the DP World Tour Championship,” said Ara Nakhnikian, Managing Partner of ProSports International, distributors of the brand in the GCC and Middle East.

“Footjoy products are synonymous with quality and the brand enjoys the status of being the number one shoe in golf and the number one glove in golf. With the much awaited launch of their comprehensive golf apparel range, we feel the partnership can only improve the standing of the tournament.”

Footjoy will supply apparel for European Tour staff, the teams competing in the Rolex Pro-Am and The European Tour Golf Day, while distributor ProSports is also the Official Merchandiser to the general public through the on course retail shop.

To be staged on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from 22-25 November, the DP World Tour Championship will see the top 60 players in The Race to Dubai competing for prize-money of $8 million as well as share of The Race to Dubai Bonus Pool of $3.75 million.

While the cream of The European Tour – including current Race to Dubai leader and World Number One Rory McIlroy and the other eleven members of Europe’s winning Ryder Cup team – will play all four days at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the event is also backed by many of the biggest commercial partners in golf.

“Now in its fourth year, the DP World Tour Championship is the perfect finale to The Race to Dubai and brings together recognised names both on and off the course,” said Nick Tarratt, European Tour International Director, Dubai Office.

“Footjoy is one of the most recognised brands in golf so it is a major boost to have them on board for the next three years and we are delighted to have ProSports International and Footjoy in our family of sponsors.”

Established in Dubai in 1995, ProSports International is a major sports wholesale distribution company in the UAE supplying a wide variety of sports products to all major golf and other clubs, retailers, corporate and marketing companies throughout the GCC and Egypt.

ProSports has been involved as Official Merchandiser with the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7s since 2000 and were also appointed Official Merchandiser for the Rugby 7s World Cup 2009 and the retail merchandise operator for the FIFA Club World Cup in 2010.