Faldo

24 August 2010: Sir Nick Faldo has announced he will be playing in the Handa Cup Senior Masters to be held at the Ohmurasaki Golf Club, Saitama from 25-28 November 2010.

The six-time Major winner will be one of the headline names appearing when The European Senior Tour visits Japan for the first time, at the Japanese PGA (JPGA) co-sanctioned event.

Faldo will be competing amongst a field of 30 leading Senior Tour players and 66 JPGA players for a prize fund of approximately €1million (120 million Yen).

“I am delighted to announce I will be playing at the Handa Cup Senior Masters,” said Faldo. “I am really looking forward to playing alongside the top European Senior Tour and Japanese players. I’m grateful to the organisers for bringing this event together and to the tournament sponsors ISPS, and their chairman Dr Handa, for the support they are giving to golf in the region, particularly through their sponsorship of the Faldo Series Asia.”

ISPS supports a number of charitable causes and has developed a collaboration to showcase the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) across a number of European Senior Tour events.

As Chairman of ISPS, the Japanese philanthropist Dr Handa announced earlier this year, a three year partnership to become a major partner of the Faldo Series Asia, which helps to develop the region’s next generation of champions.

Dr Handa, who is also Founder and Honorary Chairman of the Japanese Blind Golf Association (JPGA) and an International Ambassador for the European Senior Tour, said: “It’s fantastic that Sir Nick Faldo will be joining us at the Handa Cup Senior Masters. It will be a great privilege to see Sir Nick in action at Ohmurasaki Golf Club, and I am sure that the Japanese golf fans will show their support.

“As chairman of ISPS, the tournament’s sponsor, I am thrilled to bring the European Senior Tour to Japan for the first time.  I would like to thank co-sanction partners, the JPGA, the ISPS Ambassadors and of course Sir Nick for showing their commitment to the tournament and the vision of ISPS. 

“ISPS is supporting the Faldo Series Asia to help nurture the stars of the future and also works closely with the IBGA to raise awareness of blind golf and to help more people with visual impairment to enjoy the game.  We hope that one day blind golf will become part of the Paralympics.”

Co-sanction partners, the European Senior Tour and the Japanese PGA also voiced their delight with Faldo’s announcement. 

Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “We are thrilled that Sir Nick Faldo and the Tour is heading to Japan for the Handa Cup Senior Masters. Sir Nick and the other leading Tour players will help make this into a fantastic spectacle alongside the leading Japanese talent.”

Isao Matsui, Chairman of the JPGA, said: “It is tremendous that Sir Nick Faldo will be visiting Japan to compete in the Handa Cup Senior Masters. I know that the Japanese golf fans will be excited to see Sir Nick in action and we look forward to welcoming him and the other Tour professionals in November.”