ANTALYA, Turkey
The 2014 Turkish Airlines Open, the third event of the Final Series and penultimate event of the 2014 PGA European Tour season, began in Turkey's Antalya province today.
The tournament is being played at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course in the town of Belek in Antalya province.
Antalya is a famous region in Turkey, responsible for 30 percent of the country's tourism industry and the tournament is sponsored by Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national flag carrier.
Along with the champion Victor Dubuisson, 78 other golfers are participating in the event.
The former world number-one Lee Westwood, number-four Sergio Garcia, 2013 FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai winner Henrik Stenson as well as three Turkish amateur golfers are all competing in the Open.
Famous golfers -- including Henrik Stenson, Victor Dubuisson, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia -- played an exhibition game on Wednesday.
The Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Akif Cagatay Kilic, said the 2014 Turkish Airlines Open would contribute to Turkey becoming a leading golf center in the world.
"Turkey has successfully hosted many types of sports events in recent times," Kilic said in his written announcement.
The head of the Turkish Golf Federation, Ahmet Agaoglu, held a press conference alongside Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.
"This tournament will be followed by 510 million households across 39 countries, as 1.5 billion people are expected to watch the event on TV,” Agaoglu said on Wednesday.
"A sum of $7 million prize money awaits some of the world’s best golf players in the 2014 Turkish Airlines Open," he added.
Speaking at the press conference, Garcia said the golf courses in Antalya’s Belek area were awesome and he was happy to be a part of the tournament.
“It will be a little difficult but I believe that I will win and I will struggle until the last day,” Garcia added.
Westwood said that Turkey would be good choice for future international tournaments, praising the facilities in the country.
He added that the golf courses in Turkey were incredible and that many famous golf tournaments were held here over the last few years.
The tournament at Turkey's Maxx Royal Montgomerie course will end on Nov. 16.
The Turkish Airlines Open is a European Tour golf tournament played each year in Turkey since 2013.
In both 2013 and 2014 the tournament was the penultimate event of the PGA European Tour Final Series.
First day in Turkish Airlines 2014 Open
First day competitions in the Turkish Airlines 2014 golf tournament in Antalya have ended on Thursday.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez performed successfully on the first day of the tournament held in The Montgomerie Maxx Royal Hotel's golf course in the Belek region.
Jimenez came out on top in standings by making a minus 9 score. Ian Poulter from England followed Jimenez with minus 8 points.
Tyrrell Hatton, Wade Ormsby, Brendon De Jonge completed the round with minus 7 scores each.
Jimenez's bunker shot direct to the cup was vigorously applauded by the crowd.
Turkish athletes Ali Altintas had plus 7, Ediz Kemaloglu completed the day with plus 9 and Alihan Afsar collected plus 10 points.
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