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BMW extends Asian Open commitment in Shanghai

BMW today confirmed it is extending the run of its premier Asian golf tournament, the BMW Asian Open, in Shanghai through 2008.

The China Golf Association, PGA European Tour and Asian Tour tri-sanctioned tournament will return to the 7,340 yards championship course at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club for a fourth and fifth consecutive year in 2007 and 2008. The BMW Asian Open 2007 will be held from Thursday 19 April to Sunday 22 April, 2007.

Being one of Asia’s most prestigious professional golf events, the BMW Asian Open is certain to attract another all-star field in 2007, continuing the tournament’s tradition of drawing some of the biggest names in international golf. The previous BMW Asian Open tournaments have seen golf stars like Ernie Els, six-time Major Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Greg Norman, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Padraig Harrington and Thomas Björn entertaining China’s avid golf enthusiasts.

Jochen Goller, Vice President Marketing for BMW Group Region China, commented on the tournament extension saying, “Since moving the BMW Asian Open to Shanghai in 2004, this tournament and with it China’s golf scene have enjoyed steady growth. For the past three years, the BMW Asian Open has attracted tremendous support from enthusiastic golf fans in Shanghai and has grown into one of the premier tournaments in China, while making a lasting contribution to the rise of the world’s fastest growing golf market. We are pleased to confirm that we will be bringing again world-class golf in the form of the BMW Asian Open to Shanghai for the next two years.”

The BMW Asian Open was first held in 2002 at the Ta Shee Golf and Country Club in Taiwan. The inaugural BMW Asian Open was won by Jarmo Sandelin, while the second edition at the same course in 2003 was won by Padraig Harrington.

In 2004, BMW moved the tournament to the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club in China where it earned the distinction of becoming the first ever joint-sanctioned tournament between the Asian Tour and the PGA European Tour in China.

Since moving to Shanghai, the event has continued to attract a host of international professionals with past winners including Miguel Angel Jiménez in 2004, Ernie Els in 2005 and Gonzalo Fernandez Castano in 2006.

With its pre-eminent position on China’s golf calendar, the BMW Asian Open 2007 promises to attract another strong field of premier international golfers. The all-star field for the BMW Asian Open 2007 will be announced later.

BMW was the Official Car of January’s Royal Trophy team competition in Thailand and the 2006 Ryder Cup at The K Club in Straffan, Co. Kildare in September. BMW is also partner to the most renowned golf tournament on the European Tour, the BMW Championship, at The Wentworth Club in Surrey, UK, from May 24th to 27th, 2007.

December 2, 2006