Mercedes-Benz at The Open for the tenth time: successful partnership celebrates its anniversary

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Mercedes-Benz takes the Champion Golfer of the Year and his legendary trophy to #theopen for the Return of the Claret Jug.

Stuttgart/Sandwich.  After a break of almost two years, it is finally time to tee off again at #theopen. The 149th edition of the oldest major #golf championship in the world will take place from 15 to 18 July at Royal St George’s #golf Club in #england. Last year, #theopen could not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the world’s best golfers return to Great Britain to play for the prestigious title of the only major outside of the United States of America.

Mercedes-Benz has been the Official Patron of #theopen since 2011 and ensures mobility for players, officials and selected guests by providing a fleet of over 100 vehicles. A close #partnership has since developed between organizers The R&A and the luxury car brand with the star. Fittingly for the tenth #anniversary, the venue for The 149^th Open in 2021 is the same as 2011: Royal St George’s #golf Club.

“We are a proud partner of #theopen, one of the most prestigious #golf championships in the world, and are delighted with what is now a ten-year successful #partnership,” says #bettinafetzer, Head of Communications and Marketing at #mercedesbenz AG. “Mercedes-Benz and the championship organizers R&A share the ambition to actively shape the future with sustainable innovations and new standards, both in #golf and mobility.”

With the Return of the Claret Jug, the official ceremony at the start of the championship week, defending champion and reigning Champion Golfer of the Year Shane Lowry handed over the iconic trophy to Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A. Shane Lowry arrived in a #mercedesbenz S 500 4MATIC long (fuel consumption combined: 8.6-8 l/km; CO₂ emissions combined: 197-183 g/km). The Irish professional golfer was presented with the Claret Jug in 2019 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland after winning the championship.

“Mercedes-Benz has been a strong, reliable Patron of #theopen for ten years, advancing mobility and innovation issues together with us,” says #neilarmit, Chief Commercial Officer of The R&A. “Looking back, it has been a decade of achievements. #mercedesbenz is a great supporter of #golf and a very valued partner of The R&A.”

From a sporting perspective, #mercedesbenz brand ambassadors Jon Rahm, Ian Poulter and Rickie Fowler are in for an exciting time at #theopen. Jon Rahm is in excellent form. A few weeks ago, the 26-year-old Spaniard won the 121st edition of the U.S. Open and thus his first major championship. He also finished among the top eight in both previous major tournaments this year. As the world’s number two golfer, Jon Rahm is one of the favorites to win the Claret Jug. Rickie Fowler has been among the top six in #theopen three times in the past ten years and is competing in his second major this year at Royal St George’s #golf Club. Ian Poulter, runner-up at #theopen in 2008, is most excited about the championship, which is being held in his home country of #england for the first time since 2017.

Golf legend Bernhard Langer on the other hand will not be taking part. The long-time #mercedesbenz brand ambassador qualified for #theopen by winning the 2019 Senior Open. Due to the tight schedule with the U.S. Senior Open taking place immediately before and The Senior Open immediately after #theopen, Bernhard Langer has decided with a heavy heart not to tee off at Royal St George’s #golf Club. He wants to put his focus on the two senior major championships and primarily on his title defense at The Senior Open. In the new edition of the “Let’s talk Mercedes” #podcast, the two-time major winner talks about the development of #golf over the past decades, his special connection to #mercedesbenz and his personal understanding of luxury, among other things.