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.

With an increased prize purse of USD 2.3 Million in 2007, the BMW Asian Open is again attracting some of the world’s best golfers to Shanghai, including South African stars Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, defending champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, American John Daly, Chinese aces Zhang Lian-Wei and Liang Wen-Chong, England’s Paul Casey and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie.

Headlining this year’s challenge is 2005 champion Ernie Els who currently lies in 4th place in the world golf rankings and 3rd place on the European Tour Order of Merit. A three-time major winner, Els has more than 50 victories worldwide and has won the World Match Play Championships a record six times. He also won the European Tour Order of Merit in 2003 and 2004.

Joining the ‘The Big Easy’ is compatriot and two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen, he now lies 2nd on the current European Tour Order of Merit. The current world number 5 is coming off a spectacular 2006 season when he carded 15 top 10 finishes. He also finished T2nd at the BMW International Open in 2006.

Returning to defend his title is Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño who broke through in Shanghai last year after finishing 2nd in the China Open the week preceding the BMW Asian Open. Fernandez-Castaño continues the tradition of top Spanish golfers at the BMW Asian Open, becoming the second Spaniard to win the event after Miguel Angel Jiménez in 2004.

Hoping to make a big impact in his first visit to the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai is long-driver extraordinaire John Daly who shot to fame with his inspirational victory during his rookie season in the 1991 PGA Championship after entering the tournament as the ninth and final alternate. Four years later, he won his second major title at The Open Championship at St. Andrews. Daly particularly enjoys BMW tournaments, winning the BMW International Open in 2001 and finishing T2nd at the same event in 2005.

Crowd favourites at last year’s BMW Asian Open Paul Casey and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, meantime, are back to thrill the galleries. Joining these legends are Chinese favourites Zhang Lian-Wei and Liang Wen-Chong.

Crowd favourites at last year’s BMW Asian Open Paul Casey and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, meantime, are back to thrill the galleries. Joining these legends are Chinese favourites Zhang Lian-Wei and Liang Wen-Chong.

07.02.2007

With the galleries growing year by year at the BMW Asian Open, one of China’s most accessible and best attended golf tournaments, the organizers and the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club have made some notable adjustments to the course in 2007.

Tournament Director Marco Kaussler commented on the course changes saying, “To accommodate the continuously growing number of spectators, Tomson Golf Club and the organizers jointly decided that the championship course’s 15th hole will be the new 18th hole for the BMW Asian Open 2007.

For players and spectators alike, the new 18th hole will make for the perfect finish to the BMW Asian Open 2007 as it can now be played in front of larger audiences, enhancing the exciting and climactic atmosphere of world-class professional golf for the fans in Shanghai.” Following its philosophy of the last years, BMW China will again not charge any entrance fees for the tournament but instead BMW and golf enthusiasts could register via a special Call-Center, telephone and also email/internet to receive their personal invitation to the BMW Asian Open 2007.

In addition to its commitment to delivering world class golfsport action to China, BMW has increased the prize purse for the BMW Asian Open 2007 to USD 2,3 Million in 2007. With the eyes of the golfing world firmly fixed on the action at the BMW Asian Open and the increased prize purse, the tournament will attract even more legendary players in the future, adding to the BMW Asian Open honor roll of winners that includes Jarmo Sandelin, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Els and Fernández-Castaño.

07.02.2007

The BMW Asian Open, the first ever tri-sanctioned CGA, Asian Tour and European Tour event in China, is extending its commitment to bringing world-class golf action to China through the 2008 season. The BMW Asian Open 2007 will be played from April 19 to 22, 2007 on the 7.340-yard championship course at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

With an increased prize purse of USD 2,3 Million in 2007, the BMW Asian Open 2007 is again attracting some of the world’s best golfers to Shanghai, including South African stars Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, defending champion Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, American John Daly, Chinese aces Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong, England’s Paul Casey and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie.

Commenting on the all-star field confirmed for 2007 and BMW’s continuing commitment to bringing golf excitement to the people of Shanghai, Mr Jochen Goller, BMW Vice President, Marketing for BMW Group Region China, said, "BMW is delighted to extend its strong engagement in golf sport here in China, one of our most important markets worldwide in hosting the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai also within the years 2007 and 2008. Given the best ever player´s field of our tournament, BMW and golf enthusiasts in China can again expect a thrilling golfing competition at one of Shanghai’s best sporting and lifestyle event of the year."

07.02.2007

This week, BMW proudly announced the strongest ever field for the BMW Asian Open 2007. China's top golfer Zhang Lian-wei will be up against stiff competition in Shanghai. Read here why he still has high hopes for the tournament.

Question: Tell us about your expectations for the BMW Asian Open 2007?

Zhang Lian-wei: Many top international stars like Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, John Daly and Paul Casey will be coming to Shanghai for the BMW Asian Open. I often play with them and I had beaten them before, so I am familiar with the players and the golf course, and I believe this year I can do better.

Question: From your point of view, which challenges await golfers at the Championship Course's new 18th Hole?

Zhang Lian-wei: The old 15th is this year’s 18th hole and personally I think it’s a long hole, as it plays 477 yards with a really narrow fairway. It also has a high level of difficulty as there are 9 bunkers. The green slopes from right to left so it will be a test for all golfers as it is an upward putt. The previous 18th hole is a long par five and it benefits the long hitters. Now that the 18th hole is a Par 4, everyone stands a chance and I’m sure it will be an exciting finish.

Question: How would you describe the future of China golf?

Zhang Lian-wei: Chinese golf has slowly matured. The first 20 years was the development stage, but the third decade will see tremendous progress. Car and financial companies are very supportive of Golf, including of course BMW who has always been a strong supporter of Chinese Golf. The BMW Asian Open has done a lot for Chinese professional golfers and for the next generation of Chinese golfers, so I’m optimistic that Chinese Golf will be even better.

08.02.2007

The BMW Asian Open 2007 takes place from 19th to 22nd April. Find out what expectations four of the tournament's top stars – Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, John Daly and Paul Casey – have here.

Ernie Els: There’s a really strong Chinese contingent of players coming through right now. We used to go to the Far East. and you never really used to see the locals getting on the leaderboard. It has really changed now, Chinese golf is strong, very much like the economy. They’re really coming through now.

Retief Goosen: The Chinese golf fans are great. I’ve played in China quite a few times in the last few years and I think I’ve built up a nice fans’ base over there. I really enjoy going back as there’re a lot of people giving their support.

John Daly: I’ve got a new swing coach who helps a lot of guys on Tour that will help me. I’m forty years I need the eyes now I’m a little older I don’t see as well. And I feel my game is coming around, I’ve rededicated my life to golf, been practicing real hard this year, hopefully by the time I see you guys, there could be a win under my belt.

Paul Casey: I played twice now in BMW Asian Open, I think it’s a combination of a couple of things. BMW events are always highly entertaining, they’re fun and there’s lots of activities that go on, as well as the golf... There’re lots of dinners and fun with the cars and a combination of wonderful crowds out in shanghai....myself and a lot of players really enjoy getting ourselves out to China.

08.02.2007

The BMW Asian Open 2007 will see the best ever player's field in tournament history. We are having a look on the event's top contenders. Today: Major winners Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and John Daly as well as defending champion Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño.

Headlining this year’s challenge is 2005 champion Ernie Els who currently lies in 5th place in the world golf rankings and 6th place on the European Tour Order of Merit. As three-time major winner, Els has more than 50 victories worldwide and has won the World Match Play Championships a record six times. He also won the European Tour Order of Merit in both 2003 and 2004.

Joining the former BMW Asian Champion is Retief Goosen, currently 4th place in the European Tour Order of Merit. Goosen secured his place among the game’s elite with two US Open victories in 2001 and 2004 and is currently 8th in the world golf rankings. Coming off a spectacular 2006 season when he carded 15 top 10 finishes, Goosen has enjoyed strong success in China winning the China Masters and finishing T3rd at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai last season. He finished T2nd at the BMW International Open in 2006.

Returning to defend his title is Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño who broke through in Shanghai last year after finishing 2nd in the China Open the week preceding the BMW Asian Open. At the BMW Asian Open 2006, Fernández-Castaño fended off a play-off challenge from Henrik Stenson to win with a 7 under 282. Fernández-Castaño continues the tradition of top Spanish golfers at the BMW Asian Open, becoming the second Spaniard to win the event after Miguel Angel-Jiménez in 2004.

Hoping to make a big impact in his first visit to the BMW Asian Open is long-driver extraordinaire John Daly shot to fame in the golf world with his inspirational victory during his rookie season on the PGA Tour in the 1991 PGA Championship after entering the tournament as the ninth and final alternate. Four years later, he won his second major title at The Open Championship at St. Andrews. Daly particularly enjoys BMW tournaments, winning the BMW International Open in 2001 and finishing T2nd at the same event in 2005.

16.02.2007

The BMW Asian Open 2007 will see the best ever players field in tournament history. We are having a look on the event's top contenders. Today: Local heroes Zhang Lian-wei and Liang-Wen-Chong as well as crowd favourites Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie.

Joining these legends are Chinese superstars Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-Chong. Zhang will be looking to the adoring galleries in Shanghai to help him return to his 2005 form when he finished T7th at the China Open and 3rd at the China Masters. Liang Wen-Chong is following in Zhang’s footsteps as one of China’s most promising golfers after recording eight top ten finishes in 2006, including a fourth placed finish at the Barclays Singapore Open.

Expressing his hopes for success at the BMW Asian Open 2007, Zhang Lian-wei said “All of the top Chinese players appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate our skills and compete against the world’s best players in front of our home galleries. I am very excited to be returning to Shanghai for the BMW Asian Open 2007 and I want to commend and thank BMW for continuing its deep commitment to the development of golf in China.”

Crowd favourites at last year’s BMW Asian Open Paul Casey and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, meantime, are back to thrill the galleries. Currently ranked 14th on the European Tour Order of Merit and in the Official World Golf Rankings, Casey finished T5th at last year’s BMW Asian Open, T6th at the HSBC Champions and T4th at the China Open on the way to being named the European Tour’s 2006 Player of the Year. He won the China Open and TCL Classic in 2005.

"Monty”"as he is known to legions of fans worldwide is currently 17th in the world and 27th on the European Tour Order of Merit. He came agonizingly close to capturing an elusive first Major Championship in the 2006 US Open and finished runner-up behind Tiger Woods in the 134th Open Championship at St. Andrews. Monty captured a record eighth European Tour Order of Merit on 2005 and in the same year became the first European to play in five successful Ryder Cup teams.

22.02.2007