European Tour professional Paul McGinley, Nigel Hopkins, Executive Vice President, Service Departments of Emirates Group and George O'Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, are flanked by Emirates Cabin Crew (Getty Images) Emirates and The European Tour today put pen to paper on an agreement for Emirates to not only extend its investment across an additional ten tournaments from 2014 until the end of the 2017 season, but also assume the status as Official Airline of The European Tour.   The announcement was made today by Nigel Hopkins, Executive Vice President Service Departments, Emirates Group and George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, during a press conference in London.    “Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world, and as a global sponsorship platform it has been immensely successful for us.  Emirates’ increased investment in The European Tour is a natural move which will expand our global reach to golf enthusiasts across Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia,” said Nigel Hopkins.   “Engaging with our customers and fans through sports has been part of Emirates’ brand strategy since our early days. It makes sense for us - as an airline that connects the world - to align our brand with prestigious golf tournaments where the world’s most talented players come together. We will continue to work with our partners to celebrate the value of sport and deliver meaningful experiences for golf fans,” he added.