The HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai is to become a World Golf Championships event in November – prompting Tiger Woods to confirm he will attend. The event’s prize money will go up from £3.4m to £4.8m and the US Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, speaking on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours, claimed that the staging of a WGC event in Asia is “one of the most significant steps ever taken in the globalisation of golf”, adding: “World-class golf has arrived on this continent and the map of the golf world may never look the same.” Read the full story

The HSBC Champions tournament in China has been given World Golf Championships (WGC) status, to become one of four events on the worldwide calendar one rung down from the majors, golf officials said on Monday.

The European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament joins the United States-based WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, the WGC-CA Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational events.

The elevation of the Shanghai-based event reflects China and the region’s growing stature in international golf, the Read the full story

One of the most exciting new events on the PGA TOUR this season, the Kodak Challenge, is inviting golf fans to play along with the professionals. Kodak is launching a new fantasy golf league, the Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick ’Em, which enables fans to experience the action of the Kodak Challenge in a free online game at. Participants are eligible for Kodak prizes as well as a season-ending giveaway to win a “DISNEY Golf Dream Vacation for Four.”

The Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick ’Em gives fans an intimate view of The Kodak Challenge, in which players compete against one another on designated Kodak Challenge holes in 30 different PGA TOUR events. The player with the lowest cumulative score relative to par on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes at the end of the PGA TOUR season wins $1 million and the Kodak Challenge trophy.

Pre-registration for the Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick ’Em, hosted at, will be open from April 30 to May 24. The inaugural Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick ’Em contest will take place during the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 28-31.

“The excitement of the Kodak Challenge is building as the season unfolds, and now golf fans have a way to play along,” said David Feherty, CBS Sports golf analyst and a member of the Kodak Challenge Advisory Board. “Kodak Challenge holes have been at the center of the action at PGA TOUR events this season, including Tiger Woods’ exciting win at Bay Hill 18th hole on March 29. Playing the Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick ‘Em gives fans a way to join their favorite players and get right into the action.”

To participate in the Kodak Challenge Fantasy Pick ’Em, fans select their favorite fantasy foursome for each of the Kodak Challenge holes, earning points each week based upon the golfer’s best score for that week’s designated hole. Results will be based on a modified score to par system, and weekly first-place winners will receive their choice of a KODAK Digital Camera, Pocket Video Camera, All-in-One Printer or Digital Picture Frame. All players also receive an entry into the “DISNEY Golf Dream Vacation for Four” Grand Prize giveaway each time they submit a fantasy roster.

Source: Business Wire

Callaway Golf Company today announced an agreement with reigning U.S. Amateur Champion Danny Lee, officially beginning the professional career of the world’s No. 1-ranked amateur. Lee will endorse all Callaway Golf equipment and golf balls, carry a Callaway Golf branded bag and wear the Company’s logo. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“I am happy to have Callaway Golf’s support as I begin this exciting new phase of my life,” said Lee. “I’ve been playing with Callaway’s equipment and golf balls during this important time in my career because I feel they put me in the best position to win. Now the stakes have been raised and I’m glad Callaway is with me as I meet the challenges ahead.” Read the full story

The second leg of the controversial new OneAsia Tour, the Pine Valley Beijing Open, has been called off to the dismay of players who said it was a lost opportunity.

The event, from May 7-10, had previously been co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Tour but for the first time this year had become part of the OneAsia Tour’s “super series.”

The move infuriated the Asian and Japan Tours who planned a boycott. Read the full story

The under-pressure Asian Tour has lost another event with the SK Telecom Open in South Korea opting not to co-sanction the tournament this year.

The decision is blow to an organisation already fighting the emergence of the rival OneAsia Tour which has taken over four events it used to run.

These include the Volvo China Open, which is currently being held in Beijing, the Pine Valley Beijing Open, the Midea Classic and the Korea Open. Read the full story

Deep divisions within Asian golf, coupled with the global economic crisis, have left the sport struggling after years of unprecedented growth.

 Since the beginning of the year the newly-created OneAsia Tour and the long-standing Asian Tour have traded insults as each tries to gain the upper hand in a highly lucrative business still ripe for further expansion.

OneAsia plans to bring together Tours from China, Korea, Japan, India, and Australia to form a ‘super series’ that can rival the European and US Tours. ‘ Read the full story