Miguel Angel Jiménez will play in the Shenzhen International for the first time when the tournament returns to Shenzhen Genzon Golf Club for its second edition from April 21-24.
The highly recognisable Spaniard has been ever-present on the tour since 1989 and holds the record as the oldest winner of a European Tour event, a feat achieved in Hong Kong in late 2013 and bettered when he won the 2014 Open de España at the age of 50, the last of his 21 titles.
“I have always enjoyed playing in this part of the world and have had great success here, since Shenzhen is located next to Hong Kong and it’s an international, cosmopolitan city as well. I believe I will enjoy the tournament much like I did in Hong Kong,” Jiménez said.
“I am particularly looking forward to playing in this year’s Shenzhen International and I am certain the warm welcome I will receive will make it feel like a home away from home.”
Also competing for the lion’s share of the US$2.8 million prize fund will be two-time Masters Champion Bubba Watson, David Howell, the English former Ryder Cup player and winner of three of the most coveted titles on the European Tour – the HSBC Champions, the BMW PGA Championship and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Marc Warren, who partnered Colin Montgomerie to World Cup glory for Scotland in 2007, Spain’s Pablo Larrazábal, winner of the 2015 BMW International Open, and England’s James Morrison, twice a European Tour winner, have also committed to playing. With Li Hao Tong leading the way, the Chinese challenge is also expected to be a strong one.
The tournament has the considerable backing of the Shenzhen-based Genzon Group and is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the China Golf Association.
Mr Fei Hailong, Vice President of Genzon Group, said: "With such strong partnerships in place, together with a high-class field drawn from around the world, Shenzhen is in good hands when it comes to building a truly international golf tournament and I’m sure our vibrant and fast-evolving city will get more attention from all over the world."
