Teeing off

Although the Nanshan China Masters was only established last year, great hopes have been pinned on it becoming one of the major events on the OneAsia tour.

Scheduled for Oct 8-14, and with prize money of $1 million, the young tournament at the Danling Cuiyuan Golf Course in Nanshan, Shandong province, is expected to emerge as one of the leading events in the region this year.

"Nanshan Group has showed its ability to host a successful event as well as offer the best course and facilities for this OneAsia tour event," said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the Australian PGA Tour. "The China Masters will become one of the shining events of the tour."

Last year's event was extremely competitive as 20-year-old Korean golfer Kim Bi-o won the title following a playoff involving Australians Scott Laycock and Craig Hancock and New Zealander Michael Long.

Chinese players were also impressive on home soil.

"The Nanshan China Masters further exposed China and Chinese golfers to the outside world," said Chinese Golf Association chief Zhang Xiaoning. "Last year, we had four players top the scoreboard and reach a playoff. Two Chinese national team players made it into the top 10. These highlights are really impressive and I'm sure this year's event will attract more of Asia's and the world's best players."

South African Louis Oosthuizen, runner-up at this year's US Masters, defending champion Kim and 2009 PGA Championship winner Yang Yong-eun will lead a star-studded foreign legion while China's No 1 and former Asian Tour order-of-merit winner Liang Wenchong and rising star Li Haotong will head the home side's charge.

(China Daily 05/13/2012 page8)