SHANGHAI, CHINA. (August 8, 2011) — The press conference marking the official start of the inaugural Shanghai Masters was held at the landmark Pullman Shanghai Skyway Hotel. Scheduled the week prior to the highly regarded and well established WGC-HSBC Champions event, The Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters will ensure many of the world's top golfers will now compete over a two week period in Shanghai – the host city of World Expo 2010.
Major sponsor, SRE Group, one of China's largest property developers, has played a major part in bringing this Masters to fruition. Highlighting the importance of private sector support in the development of the sport, Mr. Shi Jian, Chairman of SRE Group said, "Constructing this golf course is part of our larger goal of creating holistic living environments where people can work, play and indulge in a game of golf. I believe that everything is in place to welcome the world's golfing greats to the Baoshan District of Shanghai and the Lake Malaren Golf Club."
With future aspirations to become a celebrated China major championship, the event will have prize-money to match – a US$5 million purse and the champion walking away with US$2 million. Held over 4 days, The Shanghai Masters will take place from October 27 to 30, 2011. A field of 30 players will feature many of the world's and Chinese best golfers competing to become the first Shanghai Masters Champion. The invitation list will include winners from Major tournaments and order of merit winners from international professional tours, literally a who's who in the world of golf. Today organisers' confirmed five of the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters field - past major champions John Daly (1995 British Open), two time US Open Champion Retief Goosen (2001 & 2004) from South Africa as well as England's Ian Poulter and Paul Casey. The 2010 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Noh Seung-yul (Kor) also confirmed his participation.
The stage for the Shanghai Masters in the next five years is the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai. The event will mark the opening of the Masters Course, a course that is expected to take its place amongst the world's best courses. Created by Nicklaus Design, the firm founded by Jack Nicklaus himself, the Masters Course will undoubtedly prove more than a test for the world's golfing elite. Both aesthetically pleasing and technically challenging, players and supporters alike can look forward to the dramatic plays and classic golfing moments that are a part of every great golf course. Following the success of the established WGC-HSBC Champions, thousands of spectators are expected to turn up over the course of the 4 days, the Shanghai Masters will be an additional opportunity to witness the drama and excitement of world-class golf at their doorstep.
Well-known Chinese player Zhang Lianwei, also named ambassador of the tournament, helped invite many of the participant players and looks forward to being a part of such a professional and large scaled tournament inspired by a Chinese company, "I'm extremely delighted that for the first time, a local company has taken up the responsibility to do its part of advancing golf in China. Belonging to the first batch of Chinese professional golfers, hearing this news made me really excited, it has been the moment I've been waiting for my whole professional career, and I wish the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters can become the China's Masters."
Adam Zhu, Chairman and President of IMG China and Vice Chairman of IMG Asia Pacific, also a partner of and founding member of CCTV- IMG Sports Management Company, expressed his confidence in the success of the tournament, "The new town concept of China New Town development is unique, CCTV-IMG as a media and entertainment company shares the same inspirations with China New Town and is very excited to be working with SRE Group and China New Town Development Co. Ltd.  Utilising the CCTV media platform, we will showcase not only the excitement of golf, but also the new lifestyle that Luo Dian European New Town offers to local residents."
The 72-hole tournament with no cut is organized by the Multi-ball Games Administration Centre of General Administration of Sports, China Golf Association and Sports Council, Shanghai Sports Administration, Baoshan District government, SRE Group, China New Town Development Co. Ltd and CCTV-IMG. The tournament offers highest prize money on the China Tour, total purse $5 million, with $2 million for the Champions to take home, and last place player will still receive $25,000. 30 invitations will go to many best world's top golfers including Majors winners, Order of Merit winners and top Chinese players.
The press conference also saw the unveiling of a "mystery gift", an impressive painting stretching 4 meters in length depicting the beautiful vista of Lake Malaren's rolling hills and pristine waters. Painted by renowned artist Lu Zhide, it was painstakingly created to commemorate this year's inaugural Shanghai Masters. At the press conference, VIP guests were given the honor of adding the finishing touches of color to the painting. With this, it also fittingly marked the official kick off of the 2011 Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters, setting a new milestone in golf's rapid development in China.