At the head of the senior European circuit since 2016, the Englishman David MacLaren looks back on the two editions of the Paris Legends Championship that he experienced in partnership with Pitch & Play and the role that the Swiss event agency can play. play, both for seniors and in women's golf.

David MacLaren, director of the European Senior Tour (white polo), with Mexican pro Esteban Toledo (black polo), with Pierre-Antoine Missud (left) and Michel Burckaert (right), at the start of 1 during the Pro -Am Renault of September 27. Photo: © Nathalie Vion

David MacLaren, hello. You have two missions with the European Tour: director of the European Senior Tour and director of European Tour Properties. Can you summarize your background?

For ten years now, for the European Tour, I have been running European Tour Properties, a network of 25 world-class golf courses all over the world. In France, for example, there is Terre Blanche and the Golf National. We support our golf courses with a lot of support at the commercial and marketing level, but also with golf tournaments. The fact that we have managed to grow this network effectively over all these years has led Keith Pelley, the executive director of the PGA European Tour, to ask me to take the lead of the European Senior Tour as well. It was in 2016. For a year, therefore, I have assumed both roles. It's a lot of work, but it's a pleasure too.

What were your objectives for the Senior Tour at the start of your employment?

We are trying to find new tournament venues, based on economic and practical considerations. Using the experience we already had. As for the Paris Legends Championship at Golf National, I have to say that this is on top of what we wanted to do.

How did the Paris Legends Championship come about?

This was part of the plan, of the contract, signed with the French Golf Federation when the 2018 Ryder Cup was awarded. I was leading the process to choose the future site for the Ryder in 2018. It was either the France, or Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal or Spain. We chose France. And in our partnership with the French Golf Federation, there was the objective for France to organize a senior tournament.

The French stage already existed at Terre Blanche, which was already a very good “signature event”. Afterwards, we must also find an economic partnership ... If there is a promoter, who has a business plan, who has the means to hold a senior tournament in such and such a place, the choice of the site will be decided more this way. -the.

The promoter, for the first “Paris Legends” in September 2016 at the Golf National, then for this 2017 edition still on the future site of the Ryder Cup 2018, was therefore the Pitch & Play agency…

Yes. The fact that we found Alexis Sikorsky and Pitch & Play was very lucky. To have a partnership with someone who believes in golf, who is interested in golf and, most importantly, is ready to invest in golf is something magical. I really appreciate. And then the fact that we had the opportunity to organize this tournament at the Golf National and in the context of the future Ryder Cup is something very special.

What can you say about the work of Pitch & Play on the organization of this French stage of the Senior Tour? Or on the Bossey Ladies Championship, a stage of LETAS (second European women's division) where you were also present one day last August?

They are amazing. What I really like is that they aim for really top quality. Alexis (Sikorsky) 's vision is to create something truly special. And the fact that they're new to golf means they've got a lot of really great ideas for doing things a little bit different. That is a pleasure. And then, we all learn a little together. Because I have only been doing this job for a year! We became friends as well as colleagues. The fact that Alexis also created this team of players, Team Pitch & Play, with John Daly, Barry Lane, Mike Lorenzo Vera and players (like Meghan, David's daughter), is something excellent for the golf.

This week at the Paris Legends Championship, Pitch & Play was able to bring in players who also play on the American circuit, such as John Daly or the Mexican Esteban Toledo. Is it important for the European Senior Tour?

Let's say that adds something. We can tie the event a little bit to the Ryder Cup, Europe versus the United States. Esteban Toledo visits us several times a year, however. But John Daly is such a strong personality it always brings something to it to have him on a golf course.

What do you think about the fact that the European Tour and the Senior Tour are doing equally well while the Ladies European Tour is going through a very difficult period, with few tournaments and endowments which do not always allow the players to live well from golf? ?

That's a very good question. What I can say today is that we, on the European Tour and the Royal & Ancient side, are thinking about this issue. We would absolutely like the LET to be stronger. And if we are able to help the women's circuit to evolve, we will. We are here. We are ready. We even had discussions recently on this subject. I also know that the LPGA in the United States, which is an extremely strong organization in women's golf, would like us to see a strong LET again. When you see the evolution of women's sport everywhere - and I will take the example of women's football in England which is developing very clearly -, it gives me hope for the future of women's golf.

On this same subject, what do you think of Alexis Sikorsky and Pitch & Play's desire to bet on both the Senior Tour and the European Women's European Tour?

I think this is something incredible. When I saw what they did this summer at the Bossey Ladies Championship, I was moved. I only spent one day there. But that was enough for me to observe the reaction of the girls when they saw what Pitch & Play had planned for them. On LETAS, this level of attention and welcome was quite new for them. I greatly admire Alexis' courage to go to a different world than the one he knew in his business and create something so exceptional. This tournament in Bossey gave the girls a lot of hope.

Interview by Nathalie Vion, for Pitch & Play

To know more : https://www.parislegendschampionship.com/

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