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World Cup to Become Biennial Event in 2011

With the move to a new venue in Mission Hills Resort, Hainan, the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will become a biennial event in 2011. The event next year will offer a record prize fund of $7.5 million when it's staged at the resort on Hainan Island in Southern China November 24-27.

The rescheduling of the World Cup, which was played at Mission Hills Shenzhen, China, 2007-09, every other year follows last year's decision by the International Olympic Committee to reintroduce golf to the Olympic Games in 2016.

By playing the event in alternate years from 2011, the World Cup is aligned with many of the major sports in the Olympic movement, such as the World Athletics Championships, which are contested biennially and do not conflict with the summer and winter Olympic Games.

Although the Olympic golf tournament will be staged as an individual competition, the Omega Mission Hills World Cup remains the only team event in the men's professional game where players represent their own countries, thus maintaining its status as the oldest international team event in professional golf.

In 2011, the World Cup, sponsored by Omega and Mission Hills Golf Club, will be among the richest events in golf, with prize money for the 28-team competition increasing from $5.5 million in 2009 to a record $7.5 million when the event debuts at the newly opened Mission Hills Resort Hainan. Next year's winning team will earn $2.4 million - $1.2 million per player - which is $350,000 more than last year's winners.

The format for the 72-hole stroke-play contest will remain unchanged, with two series of foursomes and two series of four-balls on alternate days, which has the capacity to create considerable drama.

The Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be hosted on the Blackstone course, a 350-acre layout that weaves through mature trees, wetlands, ancient town ruins and lava rock. The 7,600-yard track features many risk-reward opportunities throughout the back nine. The course is adjoined by a 438-room resort complex and a 22,000-square-meter clubhouse.

Stephen Urquhart of Omega, said of the change: "In addition to finding a coherent strategy in relation to the Olympics, one of the main reasons for making the World Cup of Golf a biennial event is that it should give all the Federations involved a better opportunity to send their best teams to represent their country. We are confident that we can make important inroads in our primary objective which is to re-establish the World Cup of Golf in its rightful position."

Dr. David Chu, Chairman, Mission Hills Golf Club, said: "We are extremely pleased to be bringing the World Cup to our new development in Haikou. Similar to its role in setting off the golf boom in China when it arrived at Mission Hills for the first time in 1995, the World Cup will undoubtedly play a significant role in establishing Hainan as the world's foremost sports and leisure destination.

"We are proud to be part of this next chapter in the World Cup's long and storied history. Today's announcement underscores the shared ambitions of Mission Hills, Omega, and the International Federation of PGA Tours to develop the World Cup and give it its deserving place among the world's biggest sports competitions."

George O'Grady, Chief Executive of the European Tour, commenting on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, said: "We are delighted that the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be held in Hainan in 2011. The world of golf is understandably excited about the prospect of the game returning to the Olympic movement from 2016, and that historic announcement in Copenhagen last October was a major motive behind the decision to re-position the World Cup in odd years.

"The International Federation of PGA Tours would like to thank Omega and Mission Hills, our major partners in the redevelopment of the World Cup in 2007, for their support in building the impressive new complex at Hainan Island in order to host the event. Our gratitude also goes to the China Golf Association for their commitment to the World Cup, an event which affords all golfers to represent their country."

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