I have debated the relative strength's of the PGA and European Tours on the air and in this space for nearly 20 years, at first the European tour was the fledgling in comparison, and of course today with the world's top 3 players and the unprecedented run in the Ryder Cup (6 of the last 8), and at majors (6 of the last 8), the European tour with it's $10m Race to Dubai is every bit as strong, if not stronger than the PGA tour.
It will be interesting to see how the new plan of qualifying for the PGA Tour, due to start next year, will play out with the Fall Series now included with full Fed Ex points in the regular season, right up against the NFL on Sunday's and with most of their top players abroad, I have my doubts..
The world's top 60 are invited to go off to China for the WGC-HSBC Champions in late October, and today the European Tour further strengthened their hand by teaming up with BMW yet again for a new tournament worth $7m US, in China the week before the WGC event.
It is incredible to think, just 30 years ago there was only one course in China, and today, with a new attitude towards the game and life in general, there are over 600.
This is only the beginning...
Here is my edited version of the official the announcement
The European Tour, CGA and BMW unveil BMW Masters
The European Tour, the China Golf Association and BMW today unveiled a new tournament on The European Tour International Schedule, the US$7 million BMW Masters at the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai from October 25-28, 2012.
The BMW Masters will bring the total number of tournaments on The 2012 Race to Dubai now to 47 and represents the third on mainland China this year. It will also be the first of two consecutive weeks of European Tour action on mainland China with the BMW Masters preceding the WGC-HSBC Champions at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen.
.George O’Grady said: “We are proud of many partnerships we enjoy across the world of golf, but one of the most enduring is with BMW for whom this tournament represents the third title sponsorship on The European Tour in 2012, and the 45th in total over the past 23 years since the first BMW International Open in Munich in 1989. BMW is renowned for its commitment to innovation and exceptional standards of excellence in promoting professional golf tournaments, and the visit to Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai in October will once again underline that fact. .”
The BMW Masters will take its place on The European Tour calendar and, after the Majors, World Golf Championships and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, will be the most lucrative event on the Tour. The exclusive field will consist of 78 players, led by current World Number One Rory McIlroy, with the majority featuring in the top 100 from the Official World Golf Ranking. The remaining start places will be four players invited directly by the organisers and a 14-man contingent from the Chinese Golf Association (CGA).
“I am already looking forward to teeing off at the new tournament,” said McIlroy, who won last year’s Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, which is now being replaced by the BMW Masters. “Thanks to the involvement of BMW, the tournament will now be one of the very best events in the world. That obviously makes it all the more exciting to defend my title there.”
Darren Clarke said “I cannot praise BMW's commitment to golf highly enough. For years BMW has demonstrated around the world just how close the game is to the brand's heart. Golf would be in a far worse state without the involvement of BMW. We professionals all really appreciate what the company is doing for the game.”
As well as the BMW Masters, BMW’s long-term commitment to The European Tour also includes the Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in England and the BMW International Open in Germany.
The Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai, home to the BMW Masters in October, was designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus and received rave reviews when it was used for tournament play for the first time last year.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles and at www.isr1050.com
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