HSBC sponsorship boss says players need to 'get on with it'

Giles Morgan, the head of sponsorship with HSBC, has once again spoken out about the changes he’d like to see to the game of golf.

HSBC is heavily involved in a number of golf tournaments – including the Open – and is also involved in helping grow the game on a global basis. Morgan, who is often outspoken on such matters, said slow play needs to be tackled head on as well as golf’s often pompous attitude. 

“Golfers need to get on with it and hit the ball,” said Morgan, who was speaking at an industry gathering in China. “The game also has to shed its pomposity … and players must get on with the fans.

“When you think of our golf portfolio, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that we are after certain demographics in certain countries, and we appeal through the prism of golf which has its own sets of values and tradition of fair play. HSBC is going through changes, and probably the most exciting part of my job is you have to adapt the portfolio to suit what the business is trying to achieve.”

Two years ago, Morgan warned that the sport was not necessarily keeping up with change in the digital landscape.

“There are lots of positives about golf,” he said, “but I’m not sure golf has kept up with that change.”

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