PGA Tour China
PGA Tour China is a China-based men's professional golf tour as part of the PGA Tour's global expansion. The tour started in 2014. After a hiatus in 2017, the tour resumed in 2018.[1][2] It is known as PGA Tour Series China. An earlier tour, the Omega China Tour, ran from 2004 to 2009.
The United States-based PGA Tour started PGA Tour China in 2014, joining PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamérica as international developmental tours.[3] Similar to the Canadian and Latinoamerica tours, PGA Tour China offers a path to the Korn Ferry Tour for top finishers. It also offers Official World Golf Ranking points to the top-six finishers at each tournament. The top five finishers on the Order of Merit at season's end receive promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour. The money leader is fully exempt, while the other four players receive conditional status. Those who place second through tenth on the Order of Merit advance to the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament's final stage. The top-50 players on the Order of Merit at the end of the season retain PGA Tour China privileges for the following year.
On 29 January 2014, PGA Tour China announced qualifying procedures and a 12-event season to begin in April. Two 72-hole qualifying tournaments were played in March. Each event awarded 20 full-time Tour cards, and conditional cards to the next 20 players plus those tied. For its inaugural season, PGA Tour China gave exemptions to the top 70 according to the China Golf Association rankings. After the 40 qualifiers and 70 from the rankings, the balance of the fields were filled through sponsor exemptions, Monday qualifiers and eligible players from the Web.com Tour, PGA Tour Latinoamérica, and PGA Tour Canada.[4]
Zhang Lianwei, China's most successful professional golfer, hit the first tee shot in PGA Tour China history.[5] South Korean teenager Wang Jeung-hun dominated the season's first event, the Mission Hills Haikou Open, winning by what is still a tournament record 10 shots.
Teenager Li Haotong won the final two events of the 2014 season, the Hainan Open and the Tour Championship – and three tournaments overall – to capture Player of the Year honors and full access to the Web.com Tour. Li later played on the European Tour, where he was an event in 2006. Another notable winner was China's Jin Cheng, a 16-year-old amateur who came from behind on the final day of the Nine Dragons Open to pass Lucas Lee. The victory by Jin is still the only time an amateur has broken through and won. Brett Drewitt finished third on the Order of Merit and also advanced to the Web.com Tour. After two seasons on that circuit, Drewitt earned his PGA Tour card for the 2016-17 season.
In 2015, New Zealand's Josh Geary won three tournaments, matching the win total of Li. But it was Australia's Bryden Macpherson, having returned to China for the second half of the season after failing to qualify for the Web.com Tour Finals, who finished atop the Order of Merit for a return trip to the Web.com Tour in 2016. Midway during the 2015 season, the series was renamed Ping An Bank China Tour – PGA Tour China Series after Ping An Bank became the tour's umbrella sponsor.
Another teenager from China dominated the third season, in 2016. Nineteen-year-old Dou Zecheng defeated Zhang Xinjun in the season-opening Henan Open, and Dou just kept winning. He eventually captured four titles, setting a record for single-season earnings CN¥1,144,350. The University of Oklahoma's Charlie Saxon won two tournaments and finished second on the Order of Merit. Dou was prominently featured in a Fortune article that appeared during the 2016 season.[6] The Tour also made history by hosting its first tournament outside of Mainland China, the Clearwater Bay Open at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong. In 2017, Dou became the first Chinese player to win on the Web.com Tour and graduated to the PGA Tour.
2019 season
The table below shows the initial 2019 schedule. "Date" is the ending date of each event. OWGR is the number of Official World Golf Ranking points awarded for that tournament. The season ran separately from the 2019 China Tour.
| Date | Tournament | Winner | OWGR pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar | Chongqing Championship |  Taihei Sato (1) |
6 |
| 7 Apr | Sanya Championship |  Trevor Sluman (1) |
6 |
| 14 Apr | Haikou Championship | David Kocher (1) |
6 |
| 12 May | Beijing Championship |  Richard Jung (2) |
6 |
| 19 May | Qinhuangdao Championship |  Luke Kwon (1) |
6 |
| 26 May | Nantong Championship | Kevin Techakanokboon (2) |
6 |
| 16 Jun | Suzhou Open |  Cyril Bouniol (1) |
6 |
| 23 Jun | Huangshan Championship |  Bai Zhengkai (1) |
6 |
| 21 Jul | Guangzhou Open | Max McGreevy (1) |
6 |
| 28 Jul | Dongguan Open | Joey Lane (1) |
6 |
| 15 Sep | Haikou Classic |  Quincy Quek (1) |
6 |
| 22 Sep | Zhuzhou Classic |  Yeung Motin (2) |
6 |
| 13 Oct | Macau Championship | Justin Shin (2) |
6 |
| 20 Oct | Clearwater Bay Open | Tournament canceled due to civil unrest[7] | |
Korn Ferry Tour qualifiers
The top five players on the Order of Merit earned Korn Ferry Tour cards for 2020.[8]
| Rank | Player | Country | Events | Prize money (CN¥) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max McGreevy |  United States |
13 | 974,153 |
| 2 | Trevor Sluman | United States |
13 | 787,865 |
| 3 | David Kocher | United States |
13 | 771,337 |
| 4 | Cyril Bouniol | France |
13 | 674,968 |
| 5 | Luke Kwon | South Korea |
13 | 668,359 |
2018 season
The table below shows the 2018 schedule. "Date" is the ending date of each event. OWGR is the number of Official World Golf Ranking points awarded for that tournament. All tournaments except the Clearwater Bay Open had a purse of ¥1,500,000. For the Clearwater Bay Open, the purse is ¥2,000,000. The season ran separately from the 2018 China Tour.
| Date | Tournament | Winner | OWGR pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Mar | Chengdu Championship | Jeffrey Kang (1) |
6 |
| 25 Mar | Chongqing Championship | Cao Yi (1) |
6 |
| 6 May | Changsha Championship | Charlie Saxon (3) |
6 |
| 13 May | Haikou Championship | Todd Baek (2) |
6 |
| 10 Jun | Guilin Championship | Charlie Saxon (4) |
6 |
| 17 Jun | Kunming Championship | Yeung Motin (1) |
6 |
| 15 Jul | Yantai Championship | Joseph Winslow (1) |
6 |
| 22 Jul | Qingdao Championship | Yuan Yechun (1) |
6 |
| 29 Jul | Beijing Championship | Peter Campbell (1) |
6 |
| 2 Sep | Suzhou Open | Richard Jung (1) |
6 |
| 9 Sep | Qinhuangdao Championship |  Nick Voke (1) |
6 |
| 30 Sep | Macau Championship | Nick Voke (2) |
6 |
| 7 Oct | Zhuhai Championship | Kevin Techakanokboon (1) |
6 |
| 14 Oct | Clearwater Bay Open | Nick Voke (3) |
6 |
Web.com Tour qualifiers
The top five players on the Order of Merit earned Web.com Tour cards for 2019.
| Rank | Player | Country | Events | Prize money (CN¥) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Callum Tarren |  England |
14 | 1,094,600 |
| 2 | Charlie Saxon | United States |
14 | 1,092,224 |
| 3 | Nick Voke | New Zealand |
5 | 987,500 |
| 4 | Yuwa Kosaihira | Japan |
14 | 732,832 |
| 5 | Todd Baek | South Korea |
14 | 660,700 |
2016 season
The table below shows the 2016 schedule. "Date" is the ending date of each event. OWGR is the number of Official World Golf Ranking points awarded for that tournament. All tournaments had a purse of ¥1,200,000.
| Date | Tournament | Winner | OWGR pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May | St. Andrews Henan Open | Dou Zecheng (1) |
6 |
| 29 May | United Investment Real Estate WuHan Open | Dou Zecheng (2) |
6 |
| 5 Jun | Cadillac Championship | Alexander Kang (1) |
6 |
| 12 Jun | Lanhai Open |  Rohan Blizard (1) |
6 |
| 26 Jun | Sunning Estate Nanjing Zhongshan Open | Dou Zecheng (3) |
6 |
| 3 Jul | Ping An Private Bank Wanda Open | Kim Tae-woo (1) |
6 |
| 4 Sep | Yulongwan Yunnan Open | Dou Zecheng (4) |
6 |
| 11 Sep | Chongqing Jiangnan NewTown KingRun Open |  Gunn Charoenkul (2) |
7 |
| 18 Sep | Pingan Bank Open | Charlie Saxon (1) |
7 |
| 6 Nov | Clearwater Bay Open | Daniel Nisbet (1) |
7 |
| 13 Nov | Putian Open | Kim Tae-woo (2) |
7 |
| 20 Nov | Zhuhai Hengqin Phoenix Tree Open | Charlie Saxon (2) |
7 |
| 27 Nov | Buick Open | Zhang Huilin (2) |
7 |
Web.com Tour qualifiers
The top five players on the Order of Merit earned Web.com Tour cards for 2017.
| Rank | Player | Country | Events | Prize money (CN¥) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dou Zecheng | China |
13 | 1,144,350 |
| 2 | Charlie Saxon | United States |
13 | 871,395 |
| 3 | Alexander Kang | United States |
12 | 597,575 |
| 4 | Kim Tae-woo | South Korea |
12 | 578,886 |
| 5 | Zhang Xinjun | China |
11 | 504,675 |
2015 season
The table below shows the initial 2015 schedule. "Date" is the ending date of each event. OWGR is the number of Official World Golf Ranking points awarded for that tournament. All tournaments had a purse of ¥1,200,000.
| Date | Tournament | Winner | OWGR pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr | Buick Open | Josh Geary (1) |
6 |
| 17 May | Eternal Courtyard Open |  Chan Shih-chang (1) |
6 |
| 24 May | United Investment Real Estate Wuhan Open | Justin Shin (1) |
6 |
| 31 May | Lanhai Open | Josh Geary (2) |
6 |
| 13 Sep | Pingan Bank Open | Eugene Wong (1) |
6 |
| 27 Sep | Cadillac Championship | Bryden Macpherson (1) |
6 |
| 4 Oct | Yulongwan Yunnan Open | Josh Geary (3) |
6 |
| 11 Oct | Lushan Open | Bryden Macpherson (2) |
6 |
| 18 Oct | Chongqing Jiangnan NewTown KingRun Open | Zhang Xinjun (2) |
6 |
| 22 Nov | Nine Dragons Open | Chao Haimeng (1) |
6 |
| 29 Nov | Hainan Open | Zhang Huilin (1) |
6 |
| 6 Dec | Capital Airline – HNA Real Estate Championship | He Zeyu (1) |
7 |
Web.com Tour qualifiers
The top five players on the Order of Merit earned Web.com Tour cards for 2016.
| Rank | Player | Country | Events | Prize money (CN¥) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryden Macpherson | Australia |
8 | 769,960 |
| 2 | Josh Geary | New Zealand |
9 | 747,230 |
| 3 | Zhang Xinjun | China |
12 | 545,046 |
| 4 | Dou Zecheng | China |
12 | 483,813 |
| 5 | Eugene Wong | Canada |
11 | 454,768 |
2014 season
The table below shows the initial 2014 schedule. "Date" is the ending date of each event. OWGR is the number of Official World Golf Ranking points awarded for that tournament. All tournaments had a purse of ¥1,200,000.
| Date | Tournament | Winner | OWGR pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr | Mission Hills Haikou Open | Wang Jeung-hun (1) |
6 |
| 4 May | Buick Open | Sam Chien (1) |
6 |
| 18 May | United Investment Real Estate Wuhan Open | Brett Drewitt (1) |
6 |
| 8 Jun | Lanhai Open | David McKenzie (1) |
6 |
| 15 Jun | Earls Beijing Open | Zhang Xinjun (1) |
6 |
| 10 Aug | Yulongwan Yunnan Open | Gunn Charoenkul (1) |
6 |
| 7 Sep | Chateau Junding Penglai Open | Todd Baek (1) |
6 |
| 14 Sep | Cadillac Championship | David McKenzie (2) |
6 |
| 28 Sep | Jianye Tianzhu Henan Open | Li Haotong (1) |
6 |
| 16 Nov | Nine Dragons Open | Jin Cheng (a, 1) |
6 |
| 23 Nov | Hainan Open | Li Haotong (2) |
6 |
| 30 Nov | CTS Tycoon Championship | Li Haotong (3) |
6 |
Web.com Tour qualifiers
The top five players on the Order of Merit earned Web.com Tour cards for 2015.
| Rank | Player | Country | Events | Prize money (CN¥) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Li Haotong | China |
12 | 967,788 |
| 2 | Zhang Xinjun | China |
8 | 650,600 |
| 3 | Brett Drewitt | Australia |
12 | 585,196 |
| 4 | Sam Chien | United States |
12 | 573,951 |
| 5 | Todd Baek | South Korea |
11 | 535,920 |
Source[9]
Order of Merit winners
| Year | Winner | Earnings (¥) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Max McGreevy |
974,153 |
| 2018 | Callum Tarren |
1,094,600 |
| 2016 | Dou Zecheng |
1,144,350 |
| 2015 | Bryden Macpherson |
769,960 |
| 2014 | Li Haotong |
967,788 |
References
- ^ "PGA Tour's China Series delayed due to issues". ESPN. Associated Press. 10 May 2017.
- ^ "PGA Tour China ready to launch in 2018". PGA Tour. 24 October 2017.
- ^ "PGA Tour to be part of new circuit in China". Golf Channel. 3 November 2013.
- ^ "China Tour-PGA Tour China Series Announces First Portion of 2014 Schedule and Two Qualifying Sites". PGA Tour China. 29 January 2014.
- ^ Livsey, Laury (17 April 2014). "Zhang Makes History by Hitting First Tee Shot on PGA Tour China Series". PGA Tour.
- ^ "The PGA Tour Sells Golf to China". Fortune. 25 October 2016.
- ^ "PGA Tour cancels China Series' Hong Kong event". ESPN. Associated Press. 23 September 2019.
- ^ "McGreevy takes Order of Merit title as four others will join him on 2020 Korn Ferry Tour". PGA Tour Series–China. 14 October 2019.
- ^ 2014 PGA Tour China Order or Merit