The official launch of the 118th VISA Open of Argentina presented by Macro took place this Tuesday at the Wyndham Nordelta Hotel. The tournament will be held from February 27 to March 2 at the Jockey Club of San Isidro. This championship marks its second year on the Korn Ferry Tour calendar, the tour that precedes the PGA TOUR and is a direct pathway to the elite level of world golf.
The presentation was attended by Pablo Lozada, President of the Argentine Golf Association (AAG); Carlos Eduardo Echagüe, Secretary of the Interior Commission of the Jockey Club; Mark Lawrie, Regional Managing Director for The R&A in Latin America and the Caribbean; Alex Baldwin, President of the Korn Ferry Tour; Miguel Leeson, Executive Director of the AAG; Silvana Antoniazzi, Vice President of Marketing for VISA Southern Cone; Cintia Muñoz, Communications Team Leader at Zurich Argentina; and Guillermo Ricaldoni, Managing Director of WE ARE SPORTS.
“This is the most important tournament on the Argentine golf calendar. The VISA Open of Argentina presented by Macro brings together the best players from the region and internationally. This championship symbolizes the tradition, effort, and passion of golf in our country. We appreciate the trust the Korn Ferry Tour has placed in us and hope to meet expectations. We also want to thank The R&A for their long-standing support,” said Lozada.
Meanwhile, Baldwin stated: “We are very happy to be part of the VISA Open of Argentina presented by Macro for the second consecutive year. Last year, we were all impressed by the passion and deep knowledge of golf that fans in Argentina have. It is truly valuable to be part of the rich history and impact this tournament has throughout the region.”
Leeson emphasized: “For us, it is a source of pride that the brands supporting the Open and the AAG continue to do so over time. All this support is thanks to our collaborative work with our commercial agent, WE ARE SPORTS, and that is very important. It is also worth highlighting that aligning with companies that share our values and vision is fundamental.”
The VISA Open of Argentina presented by Macro will feature 156 players, including notable names such as Cameron Champ, Sam Bennett, Christo Lamprecht, and Nick Watney. Additionally, several Argentine members of the Korn Ferry Tour will participate, including Jorge Fernández Valdés, Augusto Núñez, Nelson Ledesma, Tano Goya, Julián Etulain, and Fabián Gómez, among others. This year, the Korn Ferry Tour will award 20 PGA TOUR cards for the 2026 season.
The Jockey Club of San Isidro, designed by Alister MacKenzie, will host the championship for the 19th time. “Our course will be in excellent condition, largely thanks to our captain, Manuel Vidal Alemán. A lot of work has been done this year to prepare the course so that both players and spectators can enjoy the Red Course at its finest. We have a rich history with this championship, and great golf figures have won at our venue,” said Echagüe.
Antoniazzi added: “We are proud to have been the title sponsor of this event for more than 25 years. This tournament has a deep tradition, and we look forward to enjoying and celebrating this sport, which is so important to the country. Our goal is to help improve people’s lives, and working alongside the Argentine Golf Association allows us to create more opportunities.”
The championship is organized by the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and, through its strong partnership with The R&A, will continue the tradition of awarding the winner of the VISA Open of Argentina presented by Macro an exemption into The 153rd Open, which will be held at Royal Portrush in Great Britain. “For us, supporting an event of this historical significance, which has positioned itself as part of the second most important tour in the world while providing opportunities, is a great honor. The joint efforts between the AAG and the Korn Ferry Tour reflect this, and we contribute to that goal. Many players highly value the opportunities the Open provides for them to develop their careers,” said Lawrie.
Muñoz commented: “Being part of the Open is very important for us. The Zurich Solidarity Hole initiative will continue in this edition. For every birdie or better result achieved by players on the 18th hole during the championship week, Zurich will donate the proceeds to Fundación Integrar, an NGO that supports underprivileged young people in continuing their university or technical studies.”
Ricaldoni added: “It is worth noting that eight new sponsors have joined for this edition. These are companies investing in Argentine golf. For example, YPF has rejoined this championship. Some brands have been supporting the event for many years—VISA has been involved for 28 years, and Coca-Cola for over thirty. This is the perfect combination of these major companies with the most important golf championship in the country. The AAG builds bridges and opens doors for everyone who wants to watch this tournament and for all sponsors.”
This Wednesday, the traditional VISA Pro-Am for Sponsors and Special Guests will take place, and on Thursday, the 118th edition of the VISA Open of Argentina presented by Macro will begin. As the seventh-oldest golf championship in the world and one of the most prestigious in South America, it will distribute $1 million in prizes as part of the official Korn Ferry Tour calendar, a partnership set to continue through the 2029 season.
