European Number One Lee Westwood will return to the north east of England this week to defend one of the six tournaments he captured last year on The European Tour International Schedule on his way to topping the 2000 Volvo Order of Merit.
Twelve months ago the 28 year old from Worksop departed De Vere Slaley Hall with the Compaq European Grand Prix title under his belt, this year he will be looking to repeat the feat, only this time in The Great North Open.
A new partnership with regional development agency One NorthEast, allied to continual support of main sponsor Compaq has seen an expansion of the tournament and also an increased prizefund of £150,000 to £800,000 to go along with the new title.
Last season Westwood's opening rounds of 68-68 saw him take control of the tournament and it proved to be a position he did not relinquish, closing rounds of 70-70 seeing him maintain the three shot lead he had opened up at the halfway stage.
The Englishman will face a top-quality field all eager to dispossess him of the title, including winners already this season such as Ian Poulter, who claimed the Moroccan Open in April, and Andrew Oldcorn, who memorably took the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth Club last month.
The Dave Thomas-designed course opened in the spring of 1990 and hosted the first stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in 1994 and 1995. Slaley Hall also hosted the Northern Electric Seniors from 1992 to 1996 before staging its first European Tour event in 1996, won by Retief Goosen.
Since then, other winners have included Colin Montgomerie, who triumphed in 1997 on his way to the fifth of his seven successive Volvo Order of Merit crowns, and young Welshman David Park who won in 1999, a week after losing a play-off in the Moroccan Open to Miguel Angel Martin.
The course, with its mix of imposing pines, rolling moorland and water, has become a flagship venue in the north east of England alongside the spectacular De Vere Slaley Hall Hotel. Huge bunkers and raised greens make it a typical Thomas layout and many regard the imposing 453 yard ninth as its signature hole.
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: "Since its inception in 1996, this event has grown in stature under the title sponsorship of Compaq, and the change of name to The Great North Open further emphasises the importance of this tournament in the north east of England.
"We welcome the increase in prizemoney which reaffirms The Great North Open as one of the leading events on The European Tour International Schedule."
