FIRST EDITION OF THE 2018 HERO CHALLENGE TO TEE OFF AT ICONIC EDINBURGH CASTLE A line-up of the world’s top golfers will compete in the innovative contest ahead of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open Fans will gain FREE entry to the purpose-built arena at the historic landmark in the centre of Edinburgh Edinburgh, June 15, 2018 The Hero Challenge is returning for the 2018 season and this time the fast and fun night golf contest will take place in a series of iconic city locations - with Edinburgh Castle providing a stunning backdrop for the opening edition. Some of the world’s leading golfers will battle it out on the castle esplanade, high on the great rock that dominates Scotland’s capital city, and fans can get FREE tickets to watch the exciting event on the evening of Tuesday July 10 at http://et.golf/Hero-Challenge The stars of the golfing world will gather in a purpose-built arena at the world-famous visitor attraction - which dates from the 12th century and is a key part of the Edinburgh World Heritage Site - just two days before they take to the fairways in another breath-taking location for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open at Gullane Golf Club from July 12-15. The line-up of stars who will bid to emulate Masters Tournament winner Patrick Reed’s win at the first Hero Challenge on Scottish soil in 2017 will be announced in the coming weeks. After a successful debut for the night-golf event at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports in 2016, Hero MotoCorp Ltd - the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters - reaffirmed its commitment to innovation on the European Tour by extending the Hero Challenge by another three years and to three marquee events – the British Masters, Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and DP World Tour Championship, Dubai. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hero MotoCorp, said: “The overwhelming success of this unique concept of golf in our debut season and last year has encouraged us to bring the 2018 edition of the Hero Challenge to the European Tour once again. “I am glad to see the Hero Challenge playing a role in attracting a large number of new fans to golf and I am sure this will go a long way in further popularising the game among young fans.” Keith Pelley, European Tour Chief Executive, said: “Edinburgh Castle is arguably Scotland’s most recognisable landmark, and we are thrilled to bring the Hero Challenge to such an iconic location. “Since we launched the Hero Challenge at the British Masters in 2016, it has proved to be hugely popular with players and spectators alike. We have had a lot of fun growing and developing the format at some spectacular golf courses, and we believe that bringing this innovative contest to internationally recognisable landmarks is the perfect way to make it even bigger and better, while showcasing our world-famous stars. “The Hero Challenge wouldn’t be possible without the vision and support of Pawan Munjal and Hero MotoCorp. We would also like to thank Historic Environment Scotland, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and EventScotland for giving us the opportunity to stage the event at Edinburgh Castle for what will be a truly memorable evening on Tuesday July 10.” The Hero Challenge will take place from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm on Tuesday July 10 and will be shown live across the European Tour’s platforms. Free tickets to be there in person are available at http://et.golf/Hero-Challenge The Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open once again takes its place as part of the Rolex Series – the premium category of tournaments on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of US$7million. Some of the world’s best golfers will tee it up in Gullane from July 12-15, including defending champion Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain, 2015 champion Rickie Fowler, his United States Ryder Cup team mate Matt Kuchar, World Number Three and 2014 winner Justin Rose, and the 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson. Fans can buy tickets from just £15 at www.asiscottishopen.com About The European Tour The European Tour celebrates men’s professional golf on a global stage. In 2018, the European Tour International Schedule will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments in 30 countries, including eight Rolex Series events, all part of the Race to Dubai. Celebrating the global connectivity of the European Tour and Dubai, the Race to Dubai is a season-long competition to crown the European Tour’s Number One player, an honour which in 2017 went to England’s Tommy Fleetwood for the first time, and which, since 2009, has also been achieved three times by Rory McIlroy, twice by Henrik Stenson, and once each by Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald. Since its formation in 1972, the European Tour has witnessed 27 Members celebrate a total of 53 Major Championship titles between them, enjoyed ten Members attaining the pinnacle of World Number One and has celebrated its diversity as players from 36 different countries have won on the Tour. The European Tour also manages the Challenge Tour, which featured 27 tournaments in 21 countries in 2017, and the Senior Tour, which featured 16 tournaments in 12 countries in 2017 and which, from the 2018 season onwards, will be known as the Staysure Tour. It 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. In 2018, the 42nd staging of the biennial contest between Europe and the United States of America will take place at Le Golf National, France, from September 28-30. The European Tour broadcasts live coverage of its tournaments to more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. It also enjoys the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with Rolex, BMW, Emirates, Hilton and Titleist as Official Partners. About Hero MotoCorp Ltd Hero MotoCorp is the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer in terms of unit volumes sold by a single company in a year — the coveted position it has held for the past 17 consecutive years. The New Delhi, India-headquartered Hero MotoCorp sold over 7.59 million two-wheelers in the financial year 2017-18. The company has sold over 80 million motorcycles and scooters in cumulative sales since its inception. Hero MotoCorp currently sells its products in 37 countries across Asia, Africa and South and Central America. Hero MotoCorp has seven state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, including five in India, and two global facilities in Colombia and Bangladesh. Hero MotoCorp’s world class state-of-the- art R&D facility — the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) — is located in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. Hero MotoCorp has been associated with various disciplines of sports including golf, cricket, field hockey and soccer for over two decades. Fourteen-time major winner Tiger Woods is Hero’s Global Corporate Partner. ******* European Tour Communications Wentworth Drive | Virginia Water | Surrey | GU25 4LX | UNITED KINGDOM Tel : +44 (0)1344 840400 Email : [email protected] Twitter: @EuropeanTour Facebook: European Tour Web: www.europeantour.com THE EUROPEAN TOUR - CELEBRATING GOLF. WORLDWIDE. Hero MotoCorp Press Contact: [email protected] For more information on Hero MotoCorp please visit: www.heromotocorp.com | FB: /HeroMotoCorpIndia | Twitter: @HeroMotoCorp .