The Sunday News
Simba Jemwa, Sports Correspondent
PROFESSIONAL golf is on the verge of growth after revelations that the Zimbabwe Golf Open may become a part of the European Tour which is officially known as the DP World Tour.
The Zimbabwe Golf Open will be held at Royal Harare and Chapman Golf Clubs, with the dates shifted from April 6-10 to May 17-22. The Zimbabwe Golf Open was recently launched to local media at an event held at the Royal Harare Golf Course during which the title sponsors, FBC Holdings, were named and presented.
The tournament, now known as the FBC Zimbabwe Open Golf Tournament, was launched at Royal Harare yesterday with a total package of R2 million (US$137 600).
Currently, only two African countries — South Africa and Kenya — have some tournaments recognised by the DP Tour. With Zimbabwe being lined up for global recognition next year, the FBC Zimbabwe Golf Open Tournament will have an increase in purse money and the level of competition.
Zimbabwe’s potential success with hosting of a DP World Tour event will reaffirm the country’s commitment to developing golf and introducing the game to a wider demographic. The Zimbabwe Golf Open has not been held in the country for five years and makes a return this year. With a purse of R2 million, this is the country’s premier golf event.
Livingston Gwata
It follows hard on the heels of the Arenel Maxi Golf Open Tournament that was hosted by Bulawayo Golf Club and hosted to the tune of US$20 000. The Arenel Maxi Golf Open Tournament was won by Ignatius Mketekete.
Speaking at the launch event, Zimbabwe Golf Open Committee chairperson, Livingston Gwata said: “the excellent manner in which the Zimbabwe Open has been run over the years has not gone unnoticed. Our Tour Partners, the Sunshine Tour represented here by their Tournament Director, Garry Todd, were invited by the European Tour which has been rebranded and renamed the DP World Tour, to recommend countries outside South Africa that could successfully stage a European tour event and they had no hesitation in putting Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Open forward for inclusion in the European Tour.
Martin Chikwana
It is therefore expected that the 2023 Zimbabwe Open will be co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and the DP World Tour.”
At the same event, Martin Chikwana the president of the Zimbabwe Golf association added: “Given all the troubles that sport in general and golf in particular has gone through, it’s indeed a work of beauty when you have such all-weather friends like FBC to help us put a smile back on all lovers of sport and our passionate golfers. To all golfers and golfing fans, it’s our time.” @RealSimbaJemwa
