GOLFER LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN SWINGS A MERCEDES-BENZ AMBASSADORSHIP

GL -Class

ML 63 AMG

Mercedes-Benz South Africa is delighted to announce the appointment of South African professional golfer, Louis Oosthuizen, as its new international golf brand ambassador. The 30 year-old South African has had a hugely successful start to his illustrious career in 2007 with three homeland wins in that year.

Louis was member of the Ernie Els Foundation in South Africa, receiving help and inspiration from this South African golfing hero.  He won numerous amateur titles before turning professional in 2002 at the age of 19.  Louis also triumphed at his first European Tour event in 2010, the Open de Andalucia de Golf.  He followed that with his first major championship – the 139th Open Championship played over the Old Course at St. Andrews, winning by a massive seven shots.  In 2012, Louis won for the fourth time on the European Tour when he successfully defended his Africa Open title.

“I’m pleased to announce I am joining the Mercedes-Benz family as a golf ambassador! Their dedication to golf for the past 30 years has been first class and I am looking forward to working with a brand that is as passionate about the game as I am,” says Louis Oosthuizen.

South Africa is a sporting nation producing many world-class golfers, and the game of golf is amongst the top games on the sporting calendar.

“Our involvement in golf is primarily through the MercedesTrophy, an annual tournament run through our dealerships and their customers’, who compete nationally for a top place in the finals.  The winning team represents Mercedes-Benz South Africa in the international MercedesTrophy World Final.  These hotly contested events are a highlight on our events calendar,” says Selvin Govender, Divisional Manager Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“We are also proud of our latest golfing sponsorship, the Mercedes-Benz Southern Africa Golf Hall of Fame, based in Oubaai in the Western Cape.  With Southern Africa’s rich heritage of golf and continued success locally and internationally, it is in our interest to keep the works of art and respective memorabilia in a museum fitting for such fascinating works,” adds Govender.

Mercedes-Benz is renowned on the international circuit with their involvement as partner of three majors, International Partner of the Masters Tournament since 2008 and will, at the beginning of 2014 be one of the three global sponsors.  Mercedes-Benz is also Patron of the Open Championship since 2011, and Official Vehicle of the PGA of America since 2010 and with this partnership Official Vehicle of the PGA Championship and the 2012 Ryder Cup.

“We are delighted to welcome Louis Oosthuizen to the Mercedes-Benz family – our values of fascination, perfection and responsibility fit perfectly with Louis’ own principles.  He has had such a great year, and we believe that he will be a valuable asset to the Mercedes-Benz golf family/activities.  He’s one of a new breed of golfer who embodies Mercedes-Benz values both on and off the course – the best or nothing”, concludes Govender.

Louis Oosthuizen’s vehicles of choice are the performance driven ML 63 AMG in South Africa and a GL 450 in the Unites States, whilst his foundation, “The Louis Oosthuizen Junior Golf Academy,” founded in 2009, will utilise a new-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van which will be out-fitted to operate as a mobile golfing clinic.  The foundation plays a crucial role in the development of golf in a number of disadvantaged school-going children in the Mossel Bay community in the Western Cape. The Sprinter will enable the programme to reach a number of young players in outlying areas.

STORY BY MERCEDES-BENZ