China to host first-ever LPGA tournament

BEIJING, China -- China will host its first LPGA tournament in October, with 63 of the world's top women golfers competing for a purse of $1.8 million.

The event, to be known as the Grand China Air LPGA, will be played at the Haikou West Golf Club on tropical Hainan Island from October 24-26.

"This is a landmark event for women's professional golf, and we are excited to bring the best of the LPGA to China," said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens.

"China is one of the fastest growing golf markets in Asia, and with our growing supporter and sponsor interest, it is the right time to bring the LPGA there."

Earlier this year, the world's top players put their weight behind an expansion of the US LPGA Tour overseas with more tournaments played globally, particularly in Asia, where the sport is booming.

Of the 36 LPGA events this year, 25 are in the United States. Mexico host three and Canada, France, England, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, and South Korea have one each. China has now been added to the list.

The field will be made up of the top 51 ranked available players on the LPGA Official Money List as of September 14, with 12 other invited players, most likely Chinese golfers.

Deputy president and secretary general of the China Golf Association, Zhang Xiaoning, said the tournament would "become a new milestone in the development of the sport in this country".

"It will be very exciting and motivating for our up-and-coming young Chinese golfers to have the chance to watch the world's best women golfers here in China and for some of them to improve their skills by actually competing," he said. E-mail to a friend