International Series eyes Shanghai for China debut as officials look at ‘building year’
First tournament on mainland could be part of pivotal three-week swing that also includes Hong Kong and the Philippines
The International Series will take its first steps into China this season, with Shanghai expected to host a tournament during a pivotal three-week swing that could also include the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Although the Asian Tour’s schedule only lists an event from November 5 to 8, sources said officials were working on taking a tournament with a US$2.5 million prize fund to the country’s biggest city.
Shanghai’s Enhance Anting Golf Club, which will stage the DP World Tour’s (DPWT) Volvo China Open in April, is likely to be among the venues considered for the series’ debut on the mainland.
While the DPWT’s relationship with the China Golf Association previously limited access for other tours, that has changed over the past 18 months, and LIV Golf boss Scott O’Neil met with Chinese officials last year to discuss a way forward.
The International Series serves as a pathway to LIV and is seen by many as a stepping stone for the league, which returns to Hong Kong next week, to launch a tournament across the border.
“We’re very excited about going back to China,” Rahul Singh, head of the International Series, said. “That’s going to be massive for us.