2023 Porsche European Open: Highly-talented Tom McKibbin triumphs in enthralling finale
2023 Porsche European Open: Champion Tom McKibbin
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- 20-year-old youngster impressively distances big name rivals to win his first DP World Tour title.
- Talking about the magnificent atmosphere, Deniz Keskin, Director Brand Management and Partnerships at Porsche AG said, “I think we’ve seen the best ever Porsche European Open this week.”
- Porsche has donated the 120,000 euro raised by “Birdies for Charity” to Ukraine aid projects.
- To mark the 75th anniversary, the Porsche World in particular provided a spectacular brand experience centring on unique sports cars and the Public Hole-in-One with a chance of winning the official Hole-in-One prize.
- The former Endurance World Champion Mark Webber and photographer Paul Ripke enjoyed an unforgettable day at the venue in the lead-up to the tournament in the Dreamers’ Challenge and the Pro-Am.
The 20-year-old Tom McKibbin (Northern Ireland) overcame a German duo and a Frenchman in a nail-biting contest. The golfing highlight formed the emotional culmination to the 40th staging of the long-standing DP World Tour tournament, one that thrilled everybody on and lining the Porsche Nord Course.
Stuttgart/Hamburg.
Electrifying finale at the breathtaking 2023 Porsche European Open: the 20-year-old youngster Tom KcKibbin from Northern Ireland fended off the onslaught of the two German golfers Marcel Siem and Max Kieffer in an enthralling contest to impressively secure himself the title at the 40th staging of the prestigious DP World Tour tournament with a dream shot on the last hole. The talented youngster, who learnt his golf in the same Holywood club as major winner Rory McIlroy, planted the ball just a few metres from the pin from 187 metres over the water to clinch the title. A nine-under par score of 283 won McKibbin the Porsche European Open by two shots ahead of Siem, Kieffer and the Frenchman Julien Guerrier: “It was a great day and it’ll probably only sink in tomorrow,” said McKibbin who can now boast the Porsche European Open as the first DP World Tour title in his CV. European golf’s big hope said the approach shot on the 18th was “one of my best ever”.
“I think we’ve seen the best ever Porsche European Open this week,” says Deniz Keskin, Director Brand Management and Partnerships at Porsche AG. “The thrilling contest for the title, the magnificent atmosphere generated by the highly pleasing large crowds and the perfect weather all formed the fitting setting for an electrifying brand experience.”
75 Years Porsche
In addition to the already famous Ferris wheel right behind the 18th green and the biggest Public Village in the history of the tournament, visitors were treated to the chance to experience Porsche from close up. In the Porsche World, the 75th anniversary of the brand provided the festive backdrop for a range of attractions centring on exclusive sports cars, a gaming area and, as the top spot in the Public Village, the Public Hole-in-One. On each of the four days of the tournament, the fans were able to qualify with a successful putt on the specially designed 75 Years Porsche hole for a final shoot out on the tournament course’s 17th at the end of play – where the prize was the official Hole-in-One car.
Luring everybody on the par-3 17th on all four rounds was once again a dream car for a dream shot. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo in Mamba Green Metallic however did not end up in new ownership. Neither the pros not the fans managed an ace on the 140-metre hole – even though some missed only by a few centimetres. There were however three dream shots to cheer – two aces were made by Jannik de Bruiyn (Germany) and Jazz Janewattananond (Thailand) on the second hole. The German Hurly Long hit a sensational albatross on the 11th in the second round when holing out from 259 metres with his second shot.
Birdies for Charity: Porsche donates 120,000 euro to Ukraine aid projects
A big success this year was also the Birdies for Charity fundraiser organised by the title sponsor for the first time whereby the donation has gone to Ukraine aid projects. For every birdie made during the tournament on the Porsche Nord Course, the title sponsor donated 75 euro. Over the four days, the pros make a total of 1,359 birdies over the four days resulting in a sum of 101,925 euro which Porsche rounded up to 120,000 euro. The donation will be split up equally between the “JOBLINGE Hamburg“ and the “Hamburger Abendblatt hilft” foundations.
Webber and Ripke enjoy a thrilling golf day
Porsche Brand Ambassador Mark Webber and photographer Paul Ripke enjoyed an exceptional golf day on the Porsche Nord Course ahead of the Porsche European Open. In glorious sunshine and in great spirits, the former Endurance World Champion in a Porsche and the photographer savoured the awesome atmosphere during the Pro-Am and went head-to-head in a unique Dreamers’ Challenge in the Public Village and in the VIP Garden Lounge. The two went head-to-head on the Porsche Public Hole-in-One, the Carrera slot-car track and in the cook-off at the Big Green Egg Grill with judge and 3-star chef Thomas Bühner. The overall win went to Mark Webber who said, “It was an incredibly funny day. The Porsche Nord Course really is a world-class course and I played with world class guys. Everything was high-class – Porsche like,” raved Webber and Ripke added: “Today is probably the best golf day I’ve ever had. At least in Germany. The conditions here are fabulous.” Kite boarder and Porsche athlete Rita Arnaus also came along to take a look behind the scenes and was visibly excited by the atmosphere.
Kiteboarder tests tournament course
At the start of the week, golf and kiteboarding encountered each other spectacularly on the course’s 18th hole. Sabrina Lutz, European Champion and 13-time German Champion in kiteboarding, tested the kitesurfing qualities of the Porsche Nord Course in the lead-up to the Porsche European Open. “It’s the first time I’ve ever kiteboarded on a golf course. It was a brilliant experience. You can see that the elements can offer quite different challenges. It’s a nice lesson to take away from the day, and a big commitment to sport in natural surroundings,” said Sabrina Lutz who competes for Team Duotone. Porsche has been involved in kiteboarding since 2021. As a part of its involvement, the company has been collaborating with amongst others Duotone, the leading equipment maker.
Porsche in golf
Porsche has been involved successfully in golf since 2015 as the title sponsor of the Porsche European Open, a DP World Tour event. In 2019, the automobile manufacturer expanded its activities in professional golf with automotive partnerships at tournaments on the US PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. Porsche can also look back on a more than three-decade Porsche Golf Cup history. The tournament series is one of the company’s most successful customer events. Held for the first time in Germany in 1988, the Porsche Golf Cup has developed into an international event in which, at its peak, over 17,000 Porsche customers took part in 261 worldwide qualifying tournaments. The Porsche Golf Circle is also highly successful. An international community for keen golf-playing Porsche customers, it was launched in 2017. Paul Casey has been complementing the Porsche family as the first Brand Ambassador from the game of golf since 2020.
Markus Rothermel
Communications, Sustainability and Politics
Spokesperson Sports Communications
+49 (0) 170 / 911 0779
markus.rothermel@porsche.deText
English (Porsche AG)
G23_0130
2023/06/04
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- Golfsport
- 2023
- Porsche European Open
2023 Porsche European Open: Highly-talented Tom McKibbin triumphs in enthralling finale