Hero Motocorp has announced a three-year extension to the Hero Challenge and will be bringing the pre-tournament spectacular to Close House September 28-October 1 as part of the British Masters.
The night-golf event made its debut at last year’s British Masters supported by Sky Sports, when the stars of the European Tour battled it out on a sudden-death shoot-out hole under floodlights and in front of 3,000 fans.
Hero MotoCorp Ltd, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters for the past 16 years, will sponsor the event.
Frenchman Alex Levy overcame Sweden’s Alex Noren in the final in 2016, and former world number one and Ryder Cup legend Lee Westwood has already added his name to the lineup for the Hero Challenge ahead of the British Masters. He said: “I watched last year’s Hero Challenge at The Grove and it looked a lot of fun so I was delighted to put my name forward for this year’s event at Close House.
“It is always good to try something different and something like the Hero Challenge, which also encourages kids and younger people to get into our sport should be encouraged. Remember golf, like any sport, should be fun and entertaining and the Hero Challenge definitely ticks those boxes.”
Pawan Munjal, chairman, managing director and chief executive officer of Hero MotoCorp, said: “We all recognise that golf needs a lot more innovation to attract a younger and newer generation of fans and the Hero Challenge is an initiative in that direction.”
Keith Pelley, chief executive officer of the European Tour, added: “The inaugural Hero Challenge was a terrific success at the British Masters last year and led the way in terms of innovative concepts for ourselves at the European Tour.”
