WGC-HSBC Champions Confirms Return To Sheshan International Golf Club for 2021 Edition
World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme look forward to bright future.
WGC-HSBC Champions launches upgraded popular Mini Game allowing fans to build their very own golf course.
Following yesterday’s announcement that HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations, has announced the renewal of their global golf partnership programme with the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme, HSBC and the CGA have confirmed that the tournament will return to the internationally renowned Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.
This world-class venue has hosted 14 of the 15 editions of the WGC-HSBC Champions, known amongst the players as ‘Asia’s Major,’ and the Sheshan International Golf Club is an extremely popular choice amongst the world’s leading golfers, who have consistently showered praise on the venue for its immaculate conditioned course and world-class facilities.
Chairman Richard Cheung of Sheshan International Golf Club said; “We are honoured to partner with HSBC, the CGA and IMG on what is the only World Golf Championships in Asia. We are so proud to have hosted so many of the world’s best golfers over the years and so many thrilling editions and we are eagerly looking forward to their return in 2021.”
The CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme is one of the most successful grassroots golf programmes in the world. Since it was established in China in 2007 to capitalise on and nurture the interest triggered by the first HSBC Champions, the programme has put golf clubs in the hands of over 110,000 children. HSBC are renewing their commitment to this burgeoning junior programme run in conjunction with their partners the CGA, with notable alumni including Haotong Li, Zecheng Dou, Yu Liu and Xiyu Lin.
Despite COVID-related difficulties, the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme continued to run through 2020, culminating in early September with the 2020 HSBC National Junior Golf Championships at Shanghai Links Golf Club, where star juniors, Xinyu Cao, Xihuan Chang and Mengyang Li took top honours.
Jonathan Castleman, HSBC’s Group Head of Brand and Brand Partnerships commented, “We are pleased to announce our commitment as title partner of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, alongside our continued ambition to grow the game of golf in China through the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme. When we first introduced the HSBC Champions format to Shanghai in 2005, professional golf in Asia was in its relative infancy. Today, the world’s best golfers appear in ‘Asia’s Major’ every year and the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program has established a long term and sustainable pathway for future generations of Chinese golfers. Our ambition is to support the game at all levels and we are thrilled to see alumni from our junior development programme now compete on the world stage.”
The China Golf Association (CGA) is a very important partner of both the WGC-HSBC Champions and the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme with President Zhang Xiaoning of China Golf Association commenting, “We are very pleased to work with International Federation of PGA Tours on the WGC-HSBC Champions again. With the support of HSBC, this world class golf tournament in Asia has been a catalyst for so many developments for golf in China and it has made an important contribution to meet the growing demand for the fans to watch the golf. CGA endeavours to grow the game of golf in China, which offers so many excellent health and well-being benefits. Over ten years the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme offers the opportunity both to try golf for the first time as well as a crucial platform for the elite juniors to compete and gain experience.”
Grant Slack, SVP & Managing Director, Golf Events, IMG added; “The Sheshan International Golf Club has been a wonderful host venue for the WGC-HSBC Champions, providing a perfect stage over the years to showcase Shanghai’s first-class golf assets to the world and it is an extremely popular venue with our golfers. We are very thankful for the support of all our partners who have also contributed so much to the successes of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Programme, especially the CGA.”
Partners of the WGC-HSBC Champions have committed to the 2021 are: Mercedes-Benz, Descente, Emirates, Accolade Wines, All New Beef.
Also announced today was the launch of the upgraded Tournament Mini Game, aiming to build on the popular 2019 game with an exciting new gaming format where an adventure-based storyline allows players to navigate through the game, completing levels and building their very own WGC-HSBC Champions course. Based on the renowned Sheshan International Golf Club course, the game will provide a unique virtual “behind the scenes” experience where players will be able to build a bespoke tournament course, including developing the iconic tournament infrastructures. The highest scoring players will qualify for the opportunity to win complimentary tickets to the 2021 WGC-HSBC Champions next year.