Tommy Fleetwood beat Justin Rose to take the inaugural Turkish Airlines Beach Golf Championship in Belek. Played over three holes on the spectacular beach at the Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort, home of the Turkish Airlines Open 2018, Ryder cup team-mates Fleetwood and Rose went head to head, skilfully navigating iconic monuments made of sand, created to celebrate the fact that Turkish Airlines flies to more international destinations and countries than any other airline. 

After falling behind on the first hole, a 55-yarder over the Pyramids of Egypt, Fleetwood came out the worthy winner, landing his ball closest to the pin on the second, 78-yard pitch over the Ulan Danu Bratan of Bali before the grand finale, a floating island in the bay, displaying a reconstruction of the ancient Maiden Tower in Istanbul.

 The Englishman received two Turkish Airlines Business Class flights worldwide as his prize. Fleetwood, who plays the Turkish Airlines Open for a sixth time this week, said; “It was a nice thing to do and it was just a very cool little experience, with three iconic symbols from around the world. Also any little win is nice! 

"It was an amazing setting. With the Taurus Mountains and everything, it really is a beautiful destination and to spend a bit of time on the beach it’s a great image to have in your mind. I’ve been to the Turkish Airlines Open every year and for golfers the facilities are so good that you don’t do all of the fun things you can do here because it’s a good chance to work but it’s a good opportunity to have the family out here and it’s been a great experience.” 

Defending Turkish Airlines Open champion Rose said; “I probably won’t hear the end of this from Tommy! It was great fun and a beautiful place to have the challenge. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to get the trophy back one day.”

This is the sixth staging of the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya and, aside from world-class golf, the tournaments have seen Tiger Woods drive a ball between Asia and Europe on the Bosphorus Bridge, Drone Golf Championships, a World record for the fastest hole in golf and a gladiator challenge at the 2,000-year-old Aspendos amphitheatre.

Turkish Airlines SVP Corporate Communications, Ms. Seda Kalyoncu said; “The Turkish Airlines Beach Golf Championship showed the beauty of our coastline and allowed the guys to have some fun while testing their skills. It shows the mixture of elite-level skill and entertainment that the Turkish Airlines Open is known for around the world.” 

Turkish Airlines continues to spread the positive message of sport and culture with its support for golf across the globe. As well as the European Tour’s Turkish Airlines Open, the airline puts on the Turkish Airlines Challenge and allows passengers to travel with clubs for free.

Turkish Airlines holds similar long-term and special partnerships with elite soccer, European Professional Club Rugby and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Basketball.

Turkish Airlines Beach Golf Championship’ special video can be seen via the following download link;https://mab.to/lGL0rHbKj

©Michael Denker-Turkish Airlines