Shanghai to host top players in women's golf for 5 years

The prestigious Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour will land in Shanghai for the first time this year and for the next four years, SAIC-GM Buick Brand, sponsor of the Shanghai event, and WME | IMG China announced on May 17.

The inaugural event will take place at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai's Minhang district from October 18 to 21, featuring a total prize money bonus of $2.1 million.

It will bring together 81 top female golfers from all over the world, including China's star player Feng Shanshan who won the championship of the 2012 LPGA Tour and a bronze medal in women's golf at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The tournament will be a 72-hole stroke play event over four days with no cut and will be sanctioned by the China Golf Association, the LPGA and the CLPGA.

Pang Zheng, secretary general of China Golf Association, said that Buick LPGA Shanghai will give Chinese players a perfect opportunity to practice skills and make preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Grant Slack, senior vice president and managing director of Golf Events at IMG, said that China's women's golf is growing rapidly and is drawing the attention of the global sports sector and also considered the Shanghai event to be a good platform for global golf players to showcase their outstanding talents and improve their skills.

Established in 1950, LPGA is one of the oldest women's professional sports associations in the world. Its members are the world's top-rated female professional golf players.

Officials announce on May 17 that the prestigious Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour will land in Shanghai this year. [Photo/lpga.com]

Feng Shanshan attends the press conference of Buick LGPA Shanghai on May 17. [Photo/WeChat account: tctcgolf]