Sports, entertainment stars to contest golf event

Movie director Feng Xiaogang (fifth from right), his actress wife Xu Fan (second from right), Hong Kong actress Miriam Yeung (third from left) and other VIPs join Ken Chu, chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group (fifth from left), at a news conference to announce the big names for the 2014 Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am at Mission Hills Haikou resort on Sunday. Provided to China Daily

Hollywood celebrities, Chinese movie stars, sports icons and international golfers will gather for the 2014 Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro-Am in Haikou, Hainan province, from Oct 24 through 26.

Mission Hills announced the big names on Sunday who will attend this year's biggest sports and entertainment spectacular, including Hollywood actress Jessica Alba, jazz saxophonist Kenny G, Russian ice skater Evgeni Plushenko, Chinese gymnast Li Ning, Portuguese former international footballer Luís Figo and China's basketball legend and former NBA star Yao Ming.

Top golfers confirmed for the tournament include reigning US Open champion Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Gary Player, Greg Norman and John Daly, and Europe's 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

According to Mission Hills, this year's tournament will see 24 professional golfers and 24 celebrities come together for a bonanza of action and entertainment — including the first staging in China of a new combination sport that is taking Europe by storm, football-golf.

While assisting their celebrity partners, the professional golfers will also be competing for a purse of $1 million.

The list of celebrities and golfers confirmed for the event was announced at a news conference at Mission Hills Haikou on Sunday, that was attended by director Feng Xiaogang, his actress wife, Xu Fan, and Hong Kong actress Miriam Yeung, among other VIPs.

The Mission Hills tournament was launched in 2010 and also held in 2012. It has become one of the region's leading lifestyle and entertainment events.