Betfred British Masters host Danny Willett’s performance at The Belfry during this year’s tournament secured a £19,000 donation from tournament title sponsors Betfred to Prostate Cancer UK.
Willett selected Prostate Cancer UK as the official charity of the 2021 Betfred British Masters, with the United Kingdom-based bookmaker pledging to donate £1,000 for every birdie and £2,000 for every eagle Willett made during his four rounds directly to Prostate Cancer UK.
The 33-year-old had secured £9,000 by the halfway stage after nine birdies in his opening two rounds and added a further £10,000 to the total over the final two rounds with seven birdies on Friday and three more on Saturday.
The 2016 Masters Tournament winner is a long-term supporter of Prostate Cancer UK and chose the United Kingdom-based charity after hearing of the inspiring work of fellow Yorkshireman John Brownless, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004. Brownless has raised more than £50,000 for the charity over the last seven years by organising golf days in England and Spain.
Willett proudly sports the ‘Man of Men’ badge on his golf bag as he shows his support to Brownless and the 400,000 affected by prostate cancer in the United Kingdom – raising awareness of the disease across the globe.
Brownless met Willett for the first time at the start of the week after being invited to The Belfry to take part in some filming on behalf of Prostate Cancer UK. Willett surprised Brownless mid-interview to thank him for his dedication to fundraising for the charity.
“It is a good feeling to raise the money for charity,” said Willett. “I tried to get that eagle on 17 for a cheeky little bonus. It’s very generous that Betfred offered to support the cause and I’m delighted to have raised £19,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
“It was really special having the chance to meet John earlier in the week. He’s raised such an incredible amount of money for Prostate Cancer UK and also a lot of awareness about prostate cancer. I hope that people will have seen the Man of Men badge out on the golf course this week and it will encourage them to find out more about the charity and to become more knowledgeable of a disease which affects one in eight men.”
More than 47,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the United Kingdom and one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Nicola Tallett, Director of Fundraising & Supporter Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Danny Willett for picking Prostate Cancer UK as his charity of choice for the Betfred British Masters and we thank him for his fantastic efforts on and off the course over the four days of the tournament – and in the build-up too.
“Earlier in the week we were delighted to link Danny up with our tireless supporter John Brownless, whose brilliant efforts in golf have raised significant funds and saved many lives too. It was John whose story inspired Danny to support us, so we are hugely proud of them both.
“We also thank the European Tour for all their support throughout the tournament, for those players and media that have worn our ‘Man of Men’ badge, and to event sponsors Betfred whose generous pledge to donate every time Danny holed a birdie helped raise a fantastic £19,000.
“Golf has been so influential in spreading the word about prostate cancer, but sadly this disease still exists in every golf club. Prostate cancer effects one in eight men in the UK – and one in four if you are black – so we need to continue to drive home this serious message.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has made living with a diagnosis harder, but hard times show what people stand for. When the future is uncertain and the choices are tough, we stand for men with prostate cancer. We thank Danny, the European Tour staff and players, Sky Sports and Betfred for their support.”
Betfred boss Fred Done said: “Danny has been an excellent host of this year’s Betfred British Masters and we are delighted to donate £19,000 to his chosen charity, Prostate Cancer UK.”
The European Tour would like to join in thanking Betfred for its generous donation to Prostate Cancer UK alongside this year’s Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett. The European Tour seeks to create a culture of philanthropy alongside its tournaments as part of its overarching CSR programme, Golf for Good, which seeks to support worthy causes directly in the communities where the Tour plays, as well as promoting philanthropy, sustainability, inclusivity and the many health benefits of the game of golf.
Get a ‘Man of Men’ pin badge like Danny and find out about Prostate Cancer UK’s work in golf, including the epic Big Golf Race, at prostatecanceruk.org/golf.
–ENDS–
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
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About The European Tour
The European Tour is ‘Driving Golf Further’ through our guiding principles of being innovative, inclusive and global.
Innovative: The European Tour is driving innovation in golf through the creation of award-winning content, pioneering tournament formats and the use of the latest technology and inventive fan engagement. We have recognised the need for golf to modernise for future fans and we are committed to engaging new audiences whilst respecting the tradition of our sport.
Inclusive: We are committed to include all who share a love for the game of golf. We are passionate about a closer collaboration with the women’s game, disability golf and promoting the health benefits of playing golf.
Global: Since the European Tour was formed in 1972, players from 36 different countries have won tournaments, while our live broadcast reaches more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. We also enjoy the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Rolex, BMW, Callaway, DP World, Emirates, Workday and Zoom as Official Partners.
The European Tour also manages the developmental Challenge Tour and the Legends Tour (formerly known as the Staysure Tour) which is the men’s professional golf tour for members aged 50 and older.
The European Tour is also the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe, the body which, alongside the PGA of America, administers golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup.
About Prostate Cancer UK
Prostate Cancer UK has a simple ambition – to stop prostate cancer damaging the lives of men and their families.
- Investing in better treatments and tests that could save thousands of lives.
- Working with the NHS to make sure men get access to breakthrough tests and treatments.
- Spreading the word about who is at risk of prostate cancer, especially to those at higher risk.
- Supporting people dealing with prostate cancer and providing health information.
Visit prostatecanceruk.org to find out more
@ProstateUK #MenWeAreWithYou
About prostate cancer
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men – and now the most commonly diagnosed of all cancers in the UK.
- More than 11,500 men die from prostate cancer in the UK each year – that’s one man every 45 minutes.
- 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. This raises to 1 in 4 for black men.
- Around 400,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer.
- Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50 and the risk increases with age. But the risk is higher for black men or men with a family history of prostate cancer, so they may wish to speak to their GP from age 45. A 30-second online risk checker is available at prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker
- Prostate cancer often has no symptoms so men shouldn’t wait to see changes before they act.
- Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer may contact Prostate Cancer UK’s Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383 or online via the Live Chat instant messaging service: prostatecanceruk.org. The Specialist Nurse phone service is free to landlines and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 6pm on Wednesdays.
About Prostate Cancer UK’s work in golf
- Prostate cancer exists in every golf club in the UK. Prostate Cancer UK is to make sure every golf club, society and golfer in the UK understands their risk of prostate cancer and knows how they can get involved in support a cause fighting the most common cancer in men.
- Prostate Cancer UK’s footprint in golf has included work with the European Senior Tour including the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Senior Open. That led to high-profile backing from legendary names such as Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam.
- Prostate Cancer UK has also teamed up with the PGA, HowDidiDo, Bunkered, Golf Monthly and a number of YouTube stars to reach golfers at risk of prostate cancer and raise money to fund vital research to save men’s lives.
- The charity has also launched its new Big Golf Race, challenging supporters to play four or two rounds in a day.
To find out more visit prostatecanceruk.org/golf