Shenzhen, China, February 26: The inaugural Dynasty Cup, which will pit Asia’s top players against the leading players from Japan, has welcomed Phoenix Satellite Television and VISA on board as title and presenting
sponsors respectively.
The Ryder Cup-style match will tee-off at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China, from March 14-16, and will be called the Phoenix Dynasty Cup Presented by VISA.
The exciting new event will feature two 12-man teams competing over three days of match play golf on the Jack Nicklaus-designed World Cup course.
‘With the top players from Japan and the rest of Asia competing in a format unique to golf in our region we are certain the Dynasty Cup will receive huge coverage. As one of the leading satellite television operators broadcasting in China, Phoenix Satellite Television are also excited about the exposure we will achieve on the mainland,’ said Mr Lui Chang Le, Chairman and CEO of Phoenix.
‘For the Dynasty Cup, we are dedicated to providing high quality golf coverage for audiences all over the world who can share every exciting moment of this spectacular match. Through sponsoring this event, Phoenix also hopes to support the development of golf in Asia,’ added Lui.
To mark the first staging of the Dynasty Cup, both teams have picked highly respected non-playing captains in the form of Japan’s Isao Aoki and Hsieh Min-nan from Taiwan, who will spearhead Japan and Asia respectively.
Asia have announced a star-studded line-up of proven winners from the Asian PGA Tour. Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, winner of the 2001 Asian PGA Tour Order of Merit title, finished on top of the Dynasty Cup rankings at the end of the 2002 season to earn an automatic place while last year’s Merit list winner, Indian Jyoti Randhawa, grabbed the last position in eighth place.
Korea’s Charlie Wi was ranked second followed by India’s Arjun Atwal, who won last week’s Carlsberg Malaysian Open, Thammanoon Srirot from Thailand, his compatriot Thaworn Wiratchant, Korean Kang Wook-soon and China’s number
one Zhang Lian-wei.
Captain’s picks Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, Lin Keng-chi from Taiwan and rising Chinese star Liang Wen-chong poised to further strengthen the team.
Japan will be equally outstanding with the likes Nobuhito Sato, Tommy Nakajima, Tomohiro Kondo, Taichi Techima, Yasuhiro Imano and Kiyoshi Murota leading the Land of the Rising Sun. The popularity of the game in Japan reached feverish levels last December when their country lifted the EMC World Cup in Mexico and the timing of the Dynasty Cup could not be any better for them.
There will be six foursomes matches on the first day, six fourball matches on the second day and 12 singles matches on the final day. The teams require 12 ½ points to win the inaugural Dynasty Cup.
A fabulous trophy has been made for the tournament by Wedgwood and was unveiled and paraded at the 2001 British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club.
For more details contact:
Simon Wilson
Media Officer
Asian PGA Tour Limited
+852 2330 8227
(f)+852 2801 5743
S.Wilson@worldsportgroup.com.hk