Par 3: Mobile Telecom Company To Sponsor Euro Tour Irish Open

Mobile Telecom Co. Signs Three-Year, US$3.8M Deal To Sponsor Irish Open

Mobile telecommunications company 3 yesterday signed a three-year, US$3.8M deal to sponsor the PGA European Tour Irish Open, according to Paul Gallagher of the IRISH TIMES. The deal is "welcome news for one of the oldest events on the European Tour, which in recent times has struggled to obtain the prestige it previously held as one of the tour's flagship events." The tournament will have a $3.8M prize purse this year, up 20% from last year's event at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland. Gallagher notes in the two years the event was held at Adare Manor, the tournament had "no title sponsor," and Adare Manor Owner Tom Kane "absorbed much of the cost along with associate sponsors, such as Failte Ireland among others" (IRISH TIMES, 3/5). SETANTA.com's Michelle Fortune noted 3 "stepped in to support the event when its place in the calendar was already set," but 3 has "no plans, as yet, to request a date change for 2010." 3 CEO Robert Finnegan: "Our focus is on making sure this event is hugely successful this year and once we have done that we will look at all aspects to see how we can improve and build on it next year" (SETANTA.com, 3/4).