UBS and Asian golf A winning combination

In April, the elite players of the Asian and European Tours head for the bright lights of Shanghai for the BMW Asian Open. Springtime is also the time when UBS's golf platform in Asia Pacific comes out of its winter hibernation - in 2008 for its third consecutive year.

Hosted by the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, the BMW Asian Open has the signal honor of being the first European Tour-sanctioned event to have been played in Chinese mainland.

Since that tournament in 2004, the BMW Asian Open has succeeded in drawing golf's biggest names to Shanghai. This year's star-studded field is no exception with Retief Goosen, Liang Wen-hong, Greg Norman, and 2007 UBS Hong Kong Open winner, Miguel Angel Jimnez, competing for US$2.3 million in prize money.

The tournament, for which UBS is an Event Partner and 'Official Financial Services Provider', complements the other properties in the bank's stable of regional golfing partnerships, including the UBS Hong Kong Open, the UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship, The UBS Golf Club television show, and the firm's partnership with the Faldo Series Asia.

"The BMW Asian Open is not only one of the best golf tournaments in China but one of the most highly regarded in the whole of Asia," said Oliver Bertschinger, Head of Sponsorship, UBS Asia Pacific.

"With another outstanding field here in 2008, I am looking forward to building on the success of our partnership with BMW over the last two years to support our businesses in China," he added.

While the BMW Asian Open takes center stage this week, the UBS Hong Kong Open remains a centrepiece of UBS's golf sponsorship platform in the region.

Last year Spain's Jimenez - a winner at Fanling in 2004 - outgunned Robert Karlsson of Sweden in a thrilling final-round duel to claim his second title at one of Asian golf's most popular stops.

The dynamic finish was a perfect lead-in to this year's tournament in November, which will see the event celebrate its 50th year. The heritage tournament of Asian golf boasts a star-studded list of champions ranging from Peter Thomson and Greg Norman to Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington.

Taking place at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling, the championship continues to hold a special place in the hearts and minds of the game's best players.

To the north-east, meanwhile, it was the flamboyant king of Japanese men's golf, Shingo Katayama, who clinched the 2007 UBS Japan Golf Tour Championship. Completing his collection of the most prestigious titles in his home country, Katayama bagged the winner's cheque for 30 million (USD$300,000) and a unique trophy commissioned by UBS.

"As one of Japan's most important titles, this victory is very meaningful for me," said a tearful Katayama. "My father passed away before I was able to win an event and I just wish he could be here to see me here today."

The 2008 tournament, the third year that UBS has title-sponsored the event, promises to be an even greater show with the young superstar, Ryo Ishikawa, expected to participate.

The slightly-built schoolboy made an immediate impact on international golf last May when he claimed the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup as 15-year-old amateur, becoming the youngest player to win a professional tournament in Japan.

(China Daily 04/23/2008 page29)