Great legends meet at Staysure Marbella Legends
Simon Griffiths, a player who has not had a very easy life in the world of golf, achieved in the Staysure Marbella Legends his second professional victory and second in Spain, beating Major winners, Ryder Cup captains, Ryder Cup winners and DP Tour tournament winners… a dream come true for the British player who until recently was caddie at his club.
Staysure Marbella Legends: the outcome of the impressive competition
Although he started with a two-shot lead on the final day at Aloha golf, all eyes were on the favorite, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Colin Montgomerie who was hungry for victory, so the Briton had to be strong under such pressure to which he is not accustomed, as he never played on the Tour. However, he concentrated on his game and, despite the pressure, the birdies of his opponents were hitting and missing in equal parts, Simon kept in control of his game at all times.
He did not miss a single shot and with an error-free card and 5 birdies, the Briton managed to win and prove that last year’s victory at La Magna was not a coincidence, but that it came at the right time and Griffiths consolidated himself as a great player, without falling apart and finishing with a birdie on the 18th.
Simon Griffiths’ registration attempts and his success at the Staysure Marbella Legends
Griffiths two years ago went to the Champions Tour School and the Legends Tour School, and in both of them he finished 6th (only the top 5 get it). This year he qualified for the Senior Open, and the first day of the tournament he had an intoxication so he could not play. And he had to wait for the School again to earn his place last year in the Legends Tour, where he won the first round, then came 2nd in the final, and began his successful professional career in the Legends Tour: seven top 10 with a victory in the European Senior Masters and a 2nd place in the final of Mauritius.
Griffiths’ streak continues in the first tournament of the season where, withstanding the pressure of the world’s best, he kept his concentration and managed to finish the round without errors, with 68 strokes for a total of 17 under par.
The words of Simon Griffiths after the Staysure Marbella Legends
“I’m delighted, absolutely happy, it’s unbelievable,” said the exultant champion. “I started with a birdie, Monty started making birdies and I knew I had to hold on, I was looking at the leaders because I knew Hend was doing well but the birdie on the 15th gave me a lot of peace of mind. I don’t know what it is about Spain but it’s clear that I like it, I feel good, I like it… it’s very special for me“.
The toughness of the Staysure Marbella Legends and the words of Miguel Angel Jimenez
The player who made it more difficult for the British champion was Scott Hend, who was not among the favorites but signed the best card of the tournament, with ten birdies and two bogeys for 64 strokes with which he climbed to second place with a total of 13 under par. Miguel Angel Jimenez fought until the last hole, where he made birdie, but had to settle for a fourth position after signing a card of 70 strokes for 10 under par: ” A bit of a tough day today,” he acknowledged, “the holes have moved a lot, too much, except for the 18th…. But it has been a very good week, the course was in magnificent conditions, the public, the people, the tournament, it has been very good“.
Vicente Rubio, participant of the Staysure Marbella Legends and winner of the Legends experience
As for the Legends Experience of the Staysure Marbella Legends, the winner was Vicente Rubio, general manager of Fina Cortesín and partner of Aloha Golf. “I enjoyed it very much,” he declared. “I think the fact of being able to play the first two days with professionals of the level that this tour has is a unique experience, it is exciting. We have enjoyed a lot, with a lot of nerves in the first shots and then you relax, but it is a great experience that I recommend to everyone.
In addition, you play the course with apreparation that you don’t usually find. It is different from playing a proam, you are competing, so you are focused on your amateur competition, and next to two gentlemen who are playing for their future, their money and you have to be very involved in the game so as not to affect their game. It’s a very special game and I recommend it to everyone“.
The awards ceremony for the winners of Staysure Marbella Legends
Ryan Howsam, president of Staysure and the Legends Tour, Phil Harrison, CEO of the Legends Tour and Lisandro Vieytes, deputy mayor and sports councilor of the Marbella Town Hall presented the prizes to the winners, accompanied by Rafael Fontán, president of Aloha Golf Club, Pablo Mansilla, president of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, Gonzaga Escauriaza, honorary president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, Miguel Ángel Guerrero, Director of Golf of Turismo Costa del Sol and Javier Gervás, general manager of JGolf.
The Staysure Marbella Legends was sponsored by Staysure, the Marbella Town Hall and the Legends Tour, as well as Turismo Costa del Sol, Aloha Golf and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, and the collaboration of Titleist, Bodegas Juan Gil, Maximiliano Jabugo, Licor del Mediterráneo, La Sala Group, Toa Shoes, Level 4, Talk Radio, Solán de Cabras and Occidental Puerto Banús, under the organization of JGolf.
Ryan Howsam’s words and the reason behind the idea of Staysure Marbella Legends
“We have taken the legend tour to a new level” The European Senior Tour was formed in 1992 after 60 leading professionals petitioned to create a senior circuit, five years after the first Seniors Open in 1987. In 2017, the circuit was renamed the Staysure Tour after travel insurer Staysurebecame the tour’s first major sponsor.
The mind behind the Staysure Marbella Legends idea, Ryan Howsam
This led to an innovative joint venture in 2020 between the European Tour Group and Ryan Howsam, founder and CEO of Staysure Group, giving birth to the Legends Tour. Ryan Howsam gives usthe keys to his contribution to the circuit and his vision for the future; “In 2018, my company Stay Sure, which specializes in travel insurance for the over 50s, saw a great opportunity in the Senior Tour, now Legends Tour.
Initially, we became the title sponsor and began testing new formats for amateurs, such as the one being played this week, in which participants compete with their own ball alongside two professionals. This format has proven to be agreat success, adding excitement and pressure for the amateurs“.
“The problem at the time was that the circuit’s focus was too much on the young players on the DP World Tour, neglecting the huge market of senior golfers. I saw an opportunity to develop new revenue streams beyond sponsorship and proposed a model where a private company could become a shareholder in the tour. After negotiations and player approval, we were able to transform the tour into a much more powerful platform.”
“Since then, we have improved the marketing and broadcasting of the tour, changing the television format and expanding our social media presence. Today our YouTube channel has almost 2 million followers, making it the golf tour with the most subscribers on the platform. We have also expanded the tour internationally, with tournaments in India, Vietnam and various parts of Europe.
Staysure Marbella Legends potential observed by Ryan Howsam
“On a business level, my vision was to invest in the circuit not just as a sponsor, but as an owner, which has required a large investment but has generated exponential growth. We now work closely with DP World, which has recognized the great potential of the senior market, and more and more sponsors are seeing the value of this audience.”
“We are also diversifying the business with new projects, such as Legends Tour Estates, a global platform of golf course properties, and the launch of an exclusive golf apparel and equipment brand. These initiatives, together with the tour, create a unique ecosystem in the industry, where we leverage our customer base and generate new business opportunities.”
Ryan Howsam’s message to potential sponsors of Staysure Marbella Legends
“For sponsors, this structure offers multiple benefits: exclusive tournament experiences, broad media visibility and access to a highly segmented database of golfers over the age of 50. This not only allows them to promote themselves on the circuit, but also to connect directly with a target audience in an effective way.”
“Ultimately, we have taken the Legends Tour to a new level, combining golf, business and unique experiences for players and sponsors.”
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