31 August, 2006 – HSBC has announced a new partnership with the China Golf Association (CGA) creating a significant grassroots initiative to develop the game in China.

Called the HSBC Future Champions Tour, the programme will see HSBC working closely with the CGA and the David Leadbetter Golf Academy (DLGA) to build on the success of the HSBC Champions tournament and host a series of golf clinics in Beijing, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Shanghai.

These clinics are tailor-made for Chinese golfers of varying abilities, ages and backgrounds by offering expert instruction and advice on the game.

“Golf in China has enormous potential and the HSBC Future Champions Tour has been designed to try and unlock that potential in line with HSBC’s commitment to developing the game at all levels,” said Giles Morgan, Head of Sports Sponsorship and Marketing at HSBC.

“The HSBC Future Champions Tour builds on the high profile success of the HSBC Champions and is exactly the type of initiative which will help achieve long term growth of the sport in China.”

The most promising juniors and coaches from each of the clinics will be invited to the HSBC Future Champions Tour Grand Final hosted by Paul Hoad, Director of DLGA China, at the HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club, 9-12 November, 2006.

Zhang Xiao Ning, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General, China Golf Association said: “We are extremely pleased to work with HSBC and the DLGA through the HSBC Future Champions Tour as it is through grassroots initiatives such as this that will help grow the game further in China. The future for golf in China is shaping our very own stars to be at par with the world’s leading golfers, and the HSBC Future Champions Tour provides the right platform and opportunity for aspiring golfers.”

At the same time as announcing the new partnership with the CGA, HSBC also confirmed eight more world class golfers, including Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, David Howell, Zhang Lian-Wei, KJ Choi and Colin Montgomerie who will play in the HSBC Champions alongside local players Liang Wen Chong and Li Chao.  They will all line up against world number one Tiger Woods, who has already confirmed he will play in the event.

The HSBC Champions offers the largest prize fund in Asia of US$5 million and features winners from five leading golf tours as well as the top 50 from the Official World Rankings qualifying.  The event is co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour, the PGA of Australasia, the Sunshine (South Africa) Tour and the China Golf Association. 

Media enquiries:

 

HSBC	Head of Sports Sponsorship & Marketing	Giles Morgan	+ 44 (0) 20 7992 1386
H&K	HSBC Champions team	Yeoh El Lynn	+ 86 21 5109 7070 ext. 618
H&K	HSBC Press Office	Anthony Scammell	+ 44 (0) 207 413 3231
IMG	PR Manager	Michele Mair	+ 44 (0) 20 8233 5177

 

 Note to Editors:

Pictures from the launch at Sheshan International Golf Club are available from Getty Images.  Please contact Brendan Kemp at Getty on + 44 (0) 207 428 5273 or brendan.kemp@gettyimages.com

1. The HSBC Group
HSBC Holdings plc is headquartered in the UK. The HSBC Group serves over 125 million customers worldwide from approximately 9,500 offices in 76 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$1,502 billion at 31 December 2005, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world’s local bank’.

2. HSBC in Mainland China
HSBC’s network in mainland China currently comprises 25 outlets, including 13 branches (in Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan and Xiamen) and 12 sub-branches (in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tianjin). Approval has been obtained to open a branch in Xi’an this year, HSBC’s China office is based in Pudong, Shanghai.

3. About China Golf Association
Established on May 23, 1985, the China Golf Association’s goal is to develop golf in the country by increasing golf penetration and professional skills in China. CGA has been active in communicating and working with other golf associations and organizations globally. CGA is currently made up of nine working committees in the following areas: Rules and Competition, Professional Golfers, Amateur Golfers, Junior Golfers, Women Golfers, Senior Citizens, Handicap System Administration, Public Relations and Development and Course Management.

4. About IMG
IMG is the world's premier Sports, Entertainment and Media Company. IMG is a diversified global business with two major business segments: IMG Sports & Entertainment, and IMG Media. IMG employs over 2,300 people in 30 countries. Forstmann Little & Co. purchased IMG in 2004.

IMG Sports & Entertainment includes: consulting services; event ownership and management; fashion events and models representation; licensing; golf course design; client representation in golf, tennis, broadcasting, European football, rugby, cricket, motorsports, coaching, Olympic sports and action sports. In addition, IMG Academies are the world's largest and most advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport training and educational facility, delivering world-class sports training experiences to over 12,000 junior, collegiate, adult and professional athletes each year. More information about IMG is available at http://www.imgworld.com/, http://www.darlowsmithson.com/ and http://www.tigeraspect.co.uk/