Defending champion Miguel Angel Jiménez and World Number Three Ernie Els lead an impressive international field for the BMW Asian Open which returns to the Tomson Pudong Golf Club in Shanghai.
Twelve months ago, The European Tour made its historic first visit to China when Jiménez captured the third of five titles he was to win during an outstanding season. Since then The European Tour has been a regular visitor to the country with the BMW Asian Open being the fourth tournament this season to take place on Chinese soil.
Jiménez, Europe’s most prolific champion in 2004 will be looking for a successful defence of his title to add to his victory in the Omega Hong Kong Open at the start of the season, while Els, winner of back-to-back titles in Dubai and Qatar, will be chasing a third win of the year.
Joining them will be China’s top golfer Zhang Lian-Wei, six time Major Champion Nick Faldo, seven times Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie and the English WGC - World Cup winning pair Paul Casey and Luke Donald.
Casey has already enjoyed success in China this year having won the TCL Classic last month while Donald, runner-up in the Players Championship on the US PGA Tour and third in his Masters Tournament debut at Augusta National, will be chasing a third title on The European Tour International Schedule.
Donald, who won the Scandinavian Masters by Carlsberg and Omega European Masters on The 2004 European Tour, joined a special club of only four British and Irish golfers to have played on winning Walker Cup and Ryder Cup Teams when he helped Europe beat the United States in Detroit last September.
Five members of that victorious European Team will be in action in Shanghai – Casey, Donald, Jiménez, Paul McGinley and Montgomerie.
The BMW Asian Open is the first of three BMW sponsored tournaments, preceding the BMW Championship at Wentworth Club from May 26-29 and the BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Nord-Eichenreid from August 25-28.
