Luke Donald and Justin Rose host Zurich Invitational at the Emirates Golf Club
On Monday, 19 November 2012, Zurich Ambassadors, Luke Donald and Justin Rose hosted the Zurich Invitational at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. As an organisation, Zurich is deeply involved in golf around the world: in Asia, Zurich supports the golf Asian Amateur Championship as well as the National Augusta and the Asian Pacific Golf Confederation. In the United States, Zurich is involved as title sponsor of two PGA Tour events, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Farmers Insurance Open. In Switzerland, Zurich is a sponsor of the OMEGA European Masters in Crans-Montana, the Deutsche Bank Ladies’ Swiss Open in Losone, the ZURICHOPEN in Schönenberg and the PGA European Seniors Open in Bad Ragaz.
The Ryder Cup stars are two of seven Zurich Golf Ambassadors worldwide for the insurance group, which in addition to Luke Donald and Justin Rose, includes Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell, Rickie Fowler, Ben Crane and Camilo Villegas. In the UAE, Zurich recently signed a sponsorship agreement with Emirates Golf Club, which forms part of Zurich’s wider brand campaign. The strategic alignment of Zurich and Emirates Golf Club is based on number of postive synergies between the two, and reinforces Zurich’s association with golf on a local level.
The Zurich Invitational was a hugely successful event which involved a demonstration clinic by the Zurich Ambassadors, followed by 18-holes on the prestigious Majlis course where Zurich’s guests were given the opportunity to play with Luke and Justin. This was rounded up by a three hole charity shootout, with Luke and Justin going head-to-head to raise money for their individuals charities in America. The Zurich Invitational was won by James Cross, David Austin, Matthew Alabaster and Simon Brind.
Maroun Mourad, CEO of Zurich’s General Insurance business in the Middle East, commented: “Zurich’s established association with golf worldwide is strengthened by our strategic sponsorship of Emirates Golf Club here in the UAE. We are extremely fortunate to have our Zurich Ambassadors, two of the world’s best players, here in Dubai to host our first Zurich Invitational. The event provides us with a unique opportunity to interact our key clients and distribution partners throughout the region.”
Luke Donald, Zurich Ambassador and current World No.2, said: “As a Zurich Ambassador I’m delighted to have been a part of the first Zurich Invitational in the Middle East. I’m looking forward to taking part in the Race to Dubai this week and finishing the season on a high note.”
