The 21st edition of the Volvo China Open will be held at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club from April 23-26, 2015.
In keeping with the ‘open’ principle of staging the tournament across the country, this will be the first time that the event has been staged at the famous venue, which is located in the heart of the city of Shanghai.
The exclusive Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club opened back in 1997, and the course has already served as the host for the Asian Open (2004-2008) as well as several significant China PGA events.
The par 72 championship course was designed by Shunsuke Kato, chairman of the Japan Golf Association, who drew inspiration from both traditional and modern aspects of courses in the UK and the USA, as well as his native country.
James Jan, the Deputy Chairman of Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, said: “To host our national Open will be the greatest honour. We are very much looking forward to working together both with Volvo and The European Tour during the coming months. The whole team here is now focused on preparing the course to absolute perfection, and we have exactly the right tools and people for the job.”
Zhang Xiaoning, the Director General, Multi-Ball Games Administrative Centre of General Administration of Sport Vice President & Secretary General, China Golf Association, said: “We are now entering a new decade for the Volvo China Open after last year’s landmark 20thanniversary. To stage the Open in Shanghai seems very fitting, and I’m sure we will attract the vast majority of China’s ever-growing golfing talent in April.”
Alongside the Volvo China Open, the final of the Volvo World Golf Challenge, Volvo’s hugely popular golf tournament for customers from all over the globe, will also be contested at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club. In the region of 80 finalists from all over the world will gather together and get the chance to compete on the championship course in pristine condition.
Per Ericsson, President of Volvo Event Management, said: “The Tomson course will be a good test, and has a fantastic central location in Shanghai – great for both spectators and TV. It is of course also a very important area for Volvo’s businesses. To be able to connect the Volvo China Open with the Volvo World Golf Challenge, uniting professional and customer golf in such a dynamic way, is something of which we are extremely proud.”
Volvo was the first western brand to engage with golf in China in 1995, and this will be Volvo’s 84th tournament on The European Tour. With a prize fund of RMB 20 million (approximately $3.2 million), the tournament will be co-sanctioned by The European Tour and OneAsia.
The World Final of the Volvo World Golf Challenge takes place from April 28-29, also at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
