Turkish Airlines has agreed a deal to become the title sponsor of the European Tour’s new showpiece tournament in Turkey later this year.
The event, which will be referred to as the Turkish Airlines Open, will take place from November 7-10 at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, in Belek, Antalya Province.
It will form part of the inaugural Final Series, a new four-tournament conclusion on The Race to Dubai which also includes the BMW Masters, WGC-HSBC Champions and DP World Tour Championship.
The $7m (€5.4m) prize fund for the winner of the Turkish Airlines Open will form part of an overall $30.5m pot from the four events combined.
World No.1 Tiger Woods has already confirmed that he will take part in the debut Turkish Airlines Open, with Tour officials admitting his presence has played a part in the new deal.
Keith Waters, chief operating officer and director of international policy for the European Tour, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines on board as the title sponsor of the Turkish Airlines Open; a partnership which will greatly enhance what is shaping up to be a very exciting tournament in Belek in November. Part of the reason for that is the news that Tiger Woods will return once again to compete.”
Turkish Airlines is also title sponsoring a new amateur event – the World Golf Cup – which will span 12 cities around the world this year, expanding to 24 in 2014. The 2013 World Golf Cup Final will conclude in Antalya at the same time as the Turkish Airlines Open, with the winner of the tournament having the chance to partner with Woods during the Pro-Am of the latter tournament.