Leading financial security company, Genworth Financial, has signed a five-year agreement to become the new Official Sponsor of The European Tour Statistics programme. Genworth will also sponsor four events on The European Tour International Schedule as well as host the annual Statistics Awards Dinner at the end of each season.
The newly renamed "Genworth Financial Statistics" will be launched at this week's Open de España at the Centro Nacional de Golf in Madrid, where Sweden's Niclas Fasth defends the title he won 12 months ago.
The programme, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, provides Tour Members with an invaluable analysis of their performance in all Order of Merit tournaments. Every shot played by every Tour Member is profiled during the course of the season, with the results collated into eight categories - Stroke Average, Driving Accuracy, Driving Distance, Greens in Regulation, Putts per Greens in Regulation, Putts per Round, Sand Saves and Scrambles.
Genworth Financial considered a range of sponsorship opportunities before selecting The European Tour Statistics programme and associated events.
"The international flavour of the Tour coupled with its links to our core value of performance made it an obvious choice," said Bob Brannock, President of Genworth Financial's International business. "The statistics measure precision, consistency and strength; attributes that we see key to our own business performance. Most importantly, the game of golf requires that you think beyond your last success to what might be possible in the future - a strategy that Genworth works to every day."
Chief Executive of The European Tour, George O'Grady welcomed Genworth's sponsorship, saying: "We are delighted that a performance-driven company such as Genworth Financial, has elected to sponsor The European Tour Statistics. Over the past ten years, the Statistics Programme has become an integral part of the Tour, providing accurate information on all aspects of player performance and allowing an informative statistical analysis of each day's play."
About Genworth Financial
Genworth is a leading financial security company meeting the retirement, lifestyle protection, investment and mortgage insurance needs of more than 15 million customers across 25 countries. In Europe, Genworth partners with banks, brokers, advisers and other financial institutions to develop innovative mortgage insurance and payment protection and other products to suit local markets. For more information, visit www.genworth.com
Media Contact: Communications Division, The European Tour, +44 (0) 1344 840 400
media@europeantour.com
Martin Ring, Genworth Financial, +44 (0) 207 599 1596
martin.ring@genworth.com
GENWORTH FINANCIAL STATISTICS
"What the Players Say"
Miguel Angel Jiménez (Spain) - currently leading the Putts per Greens in Regulation Category:
"It is always very nice to have the statistics of how you are performing on the golf course. It shows your average statistical performance and, as a player, I find it is very interesting to see that."
"You can see week by week how you perform. It gives you an important reference point. To be honest, I am a little surprised to see myself leading the Putts per Greens in Regulation but not the Putts per Round - so that tells me what I need to work on."
Marc Warren (Scotland) - currently leading the Average Putts per Round Category:
"I think every player looks at their stats - and so they should! It is a complete feedback on how you are playing. If you are struggling a little bit with your game you can look at your stats for something to work on and nine times out of ten it will be correct."
"The stats break your whole game down and you can go a little more in depth if you want to look at a specific area. I get a sound idea of which parts of my game I need to improve and which parts are going well. The putting is going well at the moment and I am pleased with that. It is a part of the game I have always been good at but just because I am number one on that list doesn't mean I can't improve it. I keep working just as hard to better that."
"I was number one on both putting stats but have just been knocked off the Putts per Greens in Regulation. When I was at home, talking with friends, it was something I was very proud of leading both stats, not just one but two, so hopefully I can get back to the top again."
Peter O'Malley (Australia) - currently leading the Driving Accuracy Category
"I find the stats a great section on The European Tour Website, www.europeantour.com which I keep an eye on. I have an idea in my head about what I am doing but it is always good to find out what everyone else is doing as well. The stats are a great part of our job and you can visualise what is happening and how everyone is doing. It is a great concept."
"The driving distance is only taken on two holes each week and is interesting but the accuracy really gives you an idea of what you are doing. Everyone has an idea of what they need to do but the stats reinforce that."
"Also being on the Website it is very informative for everyone, players and punters, to see how the professionals are performing and how straight they hit it, how far they hit it, how well they putt. It is great for us as players."
"The driving accuracy is always one of my strong points and the irons are pretty good so I am always up there in the accuracy and greens in regulation stats. That is something I have always worked on. I guess I have to look at the scrambles and putting aspects of my game - but it is always good to see your name at the top of one of the stats."
Roddy Williams
European Tour Press Officer
Tel: +44 1344 840400
Mobile: +44 7899 940029
