Asian Golf Championship to tee off in Xiamen

The Asian Tour will sanction its first event in China in nine years with the Asian Golf Championship set to be held in Xiamen, Fujian province from Nov 30 to Dec 3.

This is the first event following the historic strategic partnership signed between the Asian Tour and China Golf Association (CGA) in March.

With a prize purse of US$350,000, the Asian Golf Championship will be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and CGA with a field breakdown of 56 Asian Tour professionals, 48 China Tour professionals and four special invitations.

Golfers from the China Tour will be eligible to take up associate memberships with the Asian Tour, with the top-five non-exempt players from the China Tour Order of Merit receiving spots into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2018.

The winner of the Asian Golf Championship will earn exemption on the Asian Tour under the winner's category and for China Tour professionals; their earnings will count towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit and China Tour Order of Merit.

Pang Zheng, CGA Deputy Secretary General, said the co-sanction of Asian Golf Championship is a new opportunity for China golf and the growth of the sport in Asia. It will be a truly competitive one for golf fans to enjoy.

Asian Tour CEO Josh Burack hailed the return of the Asian Tour to China as he believes it is an important step forward for professional golf in China and for men's golf across Asia.

"Our strategic partnership with the CGA is a game changer as the Asian Golf Championship will offer opportunities for the many talented players from China and the Asian Tour members who will compete against them.

"A new chapter for Asian golf is ready to be written and we look forward to the start of the Asian Golf Championship as our Asian Tour members are excited to tee off in China again," said Burack.

China Tour regular season CEO Ouyang Wen said the new tournament not only completes the 2017 season but also opens up the door for Chinese professional golfers.

"We're seeking a sustainable way of cooperating with other leading international Tours, " said Wen.