This year marks the 24th staging of the MercedesTrophy World Final in Stuttgart. Mercedes-Benz has invited 33 teams from all over the world to the “birthplace of the automobile” to choose the best national team and the best individual player in the MercedesTrophy 2013 from 26 September – 1 October.
“We want those taking part in the MercedesTrophy World Final to experience our brand values – fascination and perfection. Stuttgart, the home of our brand, is therefore the perfect choice,” says Lueder Fromm, Director of Global Marketing Communication Mercedes-Benz Cars. “In Stuttgart the guests get the chance to visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum, our largest plant in Sindelfingen and Mercedes-AMG in Affalterbach. We are presenting a range of current models such as the CLA and the E-Class Cabriolet. One particular highlight awaiting the participants is the exclusive presentation of the new S-Class S 63 AMG, which celebrated its world premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show two weeks ago.”
Traditionally the World Final kicks off with a welcome evening during which the participants present themselves and their nation in their respective national costumes. One week ahead of the Presidents Cup, at which the Mercedes-Benz Brand Ambassadors Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen will be representing Team International against Team USA, the Mercedes Trophy World Final participants likewise compete in national teams for the Nations Cup. Three rounds of golf are played at the Schloss Nippenburg golf course designed by Brand Ambassador Bernhard Langer and Stuttgart’s Solitude golf club, which has hosted the Mercedes German Masters on several occasions.
Prizes are awarded in the celebratory atmosphere of an exclusive dinner at the Mercedes-Benz dealership. Alongside the national competition, prizes are also awarded to the best individual players, and there is a Team Spirit Award which Franz Beckenbauer presented to the team from South Africa last year. The defending Nation Cup champion is Team East Asia, which won the event with a total of 195 points. Second and third place went to Great Britain and the Netherlands with 193 and 191 points respectively.
Those participating in the Mercedes Trophy World Final are battling for the final place in this year’s special competition “Drive to the Major”. Everyone taking part in the MercedesTrophy world-wide has a chance of participating in another unique golf event. Contestants can win a place in the qualification tournament for the “Monday After Event” in the “Straightest Drive” competition. As official patron of the world’s oldest golf tournament, Mercedes-Benz gives players the chance to tee off on the same course on which the professional golfers were battling for victory on the previous day. Furthermore, the winners get to experience the Open Championship as Mercedes-Benz’s VIP guests.
The special competition “Nearest to the Pin” is sponsored by Laureus Academy members and Brand Ambassadors Franz Beckenbauer and Boris Becker. In addition to receiving the amounts donated during the MercedesTrophy World Final, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation also benefits from all the donations at the MercedesTrophy qualification tournaments played around the world. Mercedes-Benz is a founder member of the foundation, which tackles social challenges worldwide using funds raised through sport. It currently sponsors over 140 social projects worldwide, primarily aimed at helping children and young people affected by poverty, homelessness, war, violence, drug misuse, discrimination and AIDS.
The World Final once again includes a hole-in-one prize that can be contested on both golf courses. The lucky winner who manages a hole-in-one at the 10th hole will receive a new CLA 250 model.