Jonathan Edwards CBE, one of the greatest athletes of all-time, is again backing the ‘Walk To Win’ challenge at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.
Highlighting the health benefits of spectating at the eagerly-awaited Championship from 13–20 July, the step challenge offers the chance of a star prize to play a round with Edwards over the Dunluce Links.
Edwards, 59, set the triple jump world record (18.29m) at the World Championships in Gothenburg in 1995 and it remains one of the longest-standing milestones in athletics.
Such is his love for golf, the decorated Brit is a R&A Global Development Ambassador – and fronted last year’s ‘Walk To Win’ at The 152nd Open at Royal Troon. Over 6,700 people took part, walking 168,753,944 steps – the equivalent of more than three times round the world!
A lucky winner and two friends went on to play with Edwards at Royal Troon – with the same prize now up for grabs at Royal Portrush, as well as five runners-up prizes of Open merchandise.
If you’re attending The Open, simply download The Open app for free, head to ‘Walk To Win’, opt in and get moving. You can also take part in the challenge if not at The Open by also entering via the app.
“‘Walk To Win’ was a great success at Royal Troon last year and I enjoyed being involved in my role with The R&A,” said Edwards, who supports health activity as an ambassador with the governing body. “Again, this year there are lots of prizes to be won depending on how many steps you do.
“The top prize is a four-ball at Royal Portrush. The only downside is that you have to include me in your four-ball! There aren’t many sports where you go and watch and you can do something that’s actually good for your health – but you can in golf.”
To be in with a chance of winning a round of golf for you and your family and friends in a world-famous setting with Edwards, all you have to do is walk at least 7,381 steps during one Championship or Practice day – which is the number of yards of the Royal Portrush lay-out for The 153rd Open.
Research suggests that golf spectators walk between 5-6 miles on average and burn more than 1,000 calories every day they’re on the course. Indeed, playing golf – or simply walking – for just two-and-a-half hours per week improves your well-being, productivity and adds years to life.
“Like many people I’ve got a fitness watch that tells me my steps, my distances, my calories and heart rate,” added Edwards. “It’s really quite surprising how much of a work-out golf is.
“But the health benefits of ‘Walk To Win’ are almost incidental because you’re coming to watch one of the greatest sporting events in the world. So everyone should download The Open app and start measuring their steps.”
To attract new audiences to the sport and increase participation, The R&A continues to engage with stars from sport, stage and screen. Music icon Niall Horan, Hollywood actress Kathryn Newton, football star Gareth Bale and rugby great Bryan Habana are all R&A Global Development Ambassadors, using their worldwide appeal – notably on social media – to broaden the sport’s reach.
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