BMW Asian Open To Offer Record Prize Fund In 2006

A record prize fund of $1.8 million will be on offer for the 2006 BMW Asian Open which takes place next month at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club from April 20-23 and which will again be tri-sanctioned between The European Tour, the Asian Tour and the China Golf Association.

It will be the third year in succession that the tournament has been staged at the Shanghai venue and the prize fund will be $300,000 greater than that which was on offer in both 2004, when Spain's Miguel Angel Jiménez won, or in 2005 when South Africa's Ernie Els won by a record 13 shots.

The figure is also $800,000 higher than the $1 million prize fund for the inaugural BMW Asian Open at the Westin Resort in Taiwan in 2002 when Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin was triumphant. Four seasons ago, Sandelin pocketed a cheque for $242,200, while the winner in Shanghai next month will take home $300,000.

Already, a high-quality field has committed to the event including eight-time European Number One Colin Montgomerie, current European Tour Order of Merit leader David Howell, current World Number Ten Luke Donald, the 2004 champion Jiménez, six-time Major winner Nick Faldo, Denmark's Thomas Björn, China's top ranked professional golfer Zhang Lian-wei and England's Paul Casey, a two time winner in China in 2005.

BMW is the Official Car to The 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare, Ireland in September. BMW is also partner of the BMW Championship - The Players' Flagship, at Wentworth Club, Surrey, England from May 25-28, 2006, and was the Official Car of January's Royal Trophy in Thailand.

For further information, contact:
The Communications Division
The European Tour
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Fax: +44 (0) 1344 840444

Gordon Simpson
Director of Communications
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Mob: +44 7899 940030
e mail: gsimpson@europeantour.com