Staysure Chief Executive Officer Julian Kearney believes the Staysure Tour can go from strength-to-strength as it enters its second year under the title sponsor of the leading over-50s insurance firm.
Last year was a landmark season for what was formerly known as the European Senior Tour as it entered a ten-year agreement during which it is referred to as the Staysure Tour.
The 2018 season incorporated 19 tournaments across 14 countries, including the inaugural Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, as the Staysure Tour enjoyed a terrific first campaign.
After a feet-finding first season both the tour and Staysure can benefit further in the second year of the sponsorship, according to Kearney.
“The first year was a big learning curve for all of us and the second year is about embedding,” he said. “It is starting to make a difference as we are beginning to see a growth in Staysure coming through.
“Ryan [Howsam, chairman and owner of Staysure] does love his golf but if we weren’t getting our message across, we wouldn’t be doing the sponsorship, simple as that.
“Last year was a lot about learning how we can benefit from the tour, how the tour could benefit from us, and this year, having got all those learnings, putting them into practice. I think it’s going to propel Staysure and it’s going to propel the Staysure Tour.”
The Jordan Mixed Open presented by Ayla is a world-first golf tournament where players from the Staysure Tour, European Challenge Tour and Ladies European Tour will play on the same course, in the same event, for the same prize and is one of several innovations which the Staysure Tour is at the forefront.
“The tour itself, they’re doing an amazing job anyway,” Kearney said. “There is an event in Jordan this year and for anyone who gets the chance to go to Jordan, you’ve got to take it.
“Take an extra day and go to Petra, because it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. I urge anyone who has the chance of qualifying to try and do it, because it is an amazing place and is set out to be a great golf tournament.
“I am more amazed by the quality of golf all the time. The help that the professionals give you in the pro-ams and Alliances is really, really special.
“David [MacLaren, Head of the Staysure Tour] comes to every tournament and he’s there all the time. He looks after us, looks after the players and looks after absolutely everything.”
