Rory McIlroy will prove the major attraction at this year’s BMW Masters when the Northern Irishman returns to Shanghai from October 25-28.
McIlroy is in superb form following his stunning victory at the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island three weeks ago and Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston on the US PGA Tour last week.
The 23 year old reclaimed the title of World Number One with an eight shot victory at the year’s final Major – the same winning margin which earned him his maiden Major title in the 2010 US Open Championship at Congressional.
He will join a world-class field at Shanghai's Lake Malaren Golf Club as the BMW Masters joins The European Tour’s International Schedule with a $7 million prize fund.
The two-time Major winner claimed the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters last year, which has been replaced by this year’s European Tour-sanctioned BMW Masters,and he is relishing the challenge of taking the title this year.
“I can’t wait to return to Shanghai and it will definitely be special going back there as a reigning Major Champion once again,” said McIlroy. “The Chinese fans have always supported me over the years and I am delighted to return to them as a multiple Major winner.
“I have had some great results in China in recent years, obviously including a win during my first visit to Lake Malaren last October. Of course my win in Hong Kong a few weeks later – especially the way in which I did it – was also special and is something I will never forget.
“The BMW Masters looks like it is going to be a top class tournament so to go to back to Lake Malaren and win for the second time would really put the icing on the cake of what has already been a great year for me.”
Marco Kaussler, the tournament director, also welcomed Rory’s confirmation.
He said: “We are delighted to be able to present the world’s Number One player to golf fans in China and Asia. Rory has enjoyed a fruitful season and proved himself to be best golfer on the planet, and it would be fantastic if he could defend his title at the BMW Masters this October.”
Aside from golf’s four Majors, the World Golf Championships and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, The BMW Masters will be the most lucrative event on The Race to Dubai this year.
As well as the BMW Masters, BMW’s long-term commitment to The European Tour also includes the flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, and both the BMW International Open and the BMW Italian Open.
