London, England: The worlds of golf and business will combine next week at the spiritual home of European golf with the staging of The Berenberg Gary Player Invitational at Wentworth.

Major winners, Ryder Cup heroes and European and Ladies European Tour stars will join Major-winner-turned-businessman Gary Player, and representatives of Berenberg, the world’s second oldest bank, to raise funds to support under-privileged children and communities globally.

Monday’s event marks the eighth year that Berenberg has sponsored the Gary Player Invitational. A successful 2018 event saw legends of the game unite to raise over US$100,000 for various children’s charities, including Depaul UK, whose mission is to empower young people experiencing homelessness, providing emergency accommodation, supported housing and other services to help rebuild lives.

Berenberg has actively supported golf for many years, having previously been title sponsor of the European Senior Tour’s Berenberg Masters and sponsorship of high-calibre brand ambassadors, including Player, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Mark O’Meara and Bernhard Langer. 

The German bank is the title sponsor of the Berenberg Gary Player Invitational events hosted at Wentworth (London) and GlenArbor (New York). Berenberg is joined by Rolex, SAP and Lavazza as sponsors of the London event.

David Mortlock, Head of Berenberg’s Investment Bank, said: “We’re delighted to once again be supporting this fantastic event and the efforts to raise money for very worthy causes. It’s an easy decision for us to assist Gary Player in his quest to change as many lives as possible through an event that is loved by so many.”

Marc Player, CEO of Black Knight International and founder of the series, added: “This event wouldn’t be possible without all our sponsors of the Gary Player Invitational series. The funds raised at Wentworth will undoubtedly help make a difference to many young lives through The Player Foundation. We are forever grateful of the support of all of our sponsors, partners and the professionals who support the event year-after-year.”

Among the headline players at the 2019 Berenberg Gary Player Invitational are 2014 Ryder Cup Captain and eight-time Major winner Watson and his fellow-Americans O’Meara, Couples and Tom Lehman.

Welshman Ian Woosnam, Dane Thomas Bjorn and Scotsmen Sam Torrance and Colin Montgomerie are among the star names originating from a little closer to home. Each team will consist of two amateur guests competing alongside one female and one male professional.