Smurfit Kappa ends sponsorship of European Open

Smurfit Kappa Group has today announced that it has reached an agreement with The European Tour to conclude its sponsorship of the European Open with immediate effect.

Garry McGann, CEO of SKG, said: “We have had a very successful relationship with The European Tour over the last 13 years, during which time the European Open became one of the leading events on the Tour’s circuit.”

“Last year The K Club also hosted what most commentators regard as the most successful ever staging of The Ryder Cup. I want to commend everyone involved in making the European Open the great success it has been since it first came to Ireland in 1995. In particular, it is important to acknowledge Dr. Michael Smurfit’s unique contribution to the development of golf in Ireland.

“SKG’s decision is based on the increasingly international scale of our business and the inability of a brand such as ours to obtain full value from the sponsorship."