The Ladies Professional Golf Association has unveiled sports apparel and accessories brand McKayson as the title sponsor of the New Zealand Open tournament, which will become an LPGA Tour event from next year.
The 2017 McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open will take place from September 28 to October 1 at the Windross Farm Golf Course in Auckland.
The tournament will feature a prize fund of $1.3m (€1.2m) and will mark the first LPGA or PGA Tour event to be held in New Zealand.
McKayson’s parent company, MCS Holdings, reached the title sponsorship agreement with New Zealand Golf and its promoter, The Clubhouse.
“MCS Holdings Inc will utilise this sponsorship as a means for extensive promotion and marketing to build McKayson as a successful international brand in the global market,” MCS Holdings chairman Min Cheol Kim said. “The company also believes it has a social responsibility to the game of golf through its sponsorship which offers both tangible and intangible benefits to both our company and New Zealand.”
The tournament provides Korea-born New Zealander Lydia Ko (pictured), the current world No.1, with a first chance to compete in an LPGA event in her home city of Auckland.