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Driving Chinese golf forward
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-02 06:21
When the Volvo China Open came to China twelve years ago, it was the first
such event to offer prize money of US$400,000 and receive a live TV broadcast
for golf in the country.
Two years ago, the country's annual Open event joined the European Tour and
began to introduce top professionals into the world's most populous nation.
Last year, Volvo China Open launched the Chinese Junior Championships, now
the highest level in junior competitions sparking increasing interest in
teenagers.
Yesterday, Mel Pyatt, President & CEO of Volvo Event Management, said
they would like to continue the commitment to China's golf and would try to
introduce something new every year.
"Volvo is playing the leading commercial role in moving golf in China
forward, both at the elite level with the Volvo China Open, and in supporting
the next generation of Chinese golfers," he said.
"Volvo is also honoured to have been the first commercial partner of the
China Golf Association (CGA), and the substantial uplift in prize money is
further evidence of our commitment to the game of golf in China", said Pyatt.
Prize money for the US$ 1.8 million Open has risen a remarkable 45 per cent
over the past three years, with this year's champion set to take home a cheque
for US$300,000.
Meanwhile, the country has seen the number of golf fans swell from a mere
1,000 a decade ago to more than one million enthusiasts today. A home-grown pro
tournament has risen to become the fastest-developing event in Asia.
A group of Chinese caddies were even catapulted to star status, highlighted
by the 2003 Open champion Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong who became pro tour
competitors and title contenders in world-class events.
Pyatt has witnessed the development of the tournament and also the increasing
popularity of sports in China over the past twelve years and now has his eyes
set on the coming decade.
"In the next 10 years, we will raise the prize money
significantly to make the event one of the world's major golf events,' said
Pyatt, adding that Volvo has put forward a request to the CGA to extend the
sponsorship contract, which ends in 2009, to 2015.
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