The Open Chief Hints at Sponsorship Deal With Saudi Arabia

HOW quickly the world revolves and changes. This time last year, R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers would not have been able to bring himself to talk about anything to do with Saudi Arabia. But now, in an extraordinary about-turn, he says that the R&A is looking at the possibility of Saudi sponsorship. 

He left the door open to a deal with the Kingdom’s multi-billion dollar Public Investment Fund when he said: “The world has changed in the past year. It’s not just golf. You’re seeing it in football. You’re seeing it in F1. You’re seeing it in cricket. I’m sure tennis won’t be that far behind.

“The world of sport has changed dramatically in the past 12 months and it is not feasible for the R&A or golf to just ignore what is a societal change on a global basis. We will be considering within all the parameters that we look at all the options that we have.

“We are continuing to talk to various potential sponsors.”

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

The Open will not have a title sponsor but it needs support from corporate backers to help it keep pace with the prize money trends in men’s golf.

The R&A have increased the payout this year by 18 percent but the $3m winners’ cheque is still the smallest of all the majors.

“We had expected prize money to rise over a five-year period and it’s probably risen three years earlier than we expected it to, so there is a significant change,” said Slumbers.

“I think you’re seeing the change in the entire business model of men’s professional golf and that’s a significant challenge for us when you take into account our desire to keep growing the game and investing all the proceeds we make into the game.”

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