"I have a new mandate for this competition–to invite the top players in the world to compete. On behalf of the organizers, I have made every effort to invite the golfing world's elite to participate in this Masters Tournament in Lake Malaren. As of now, we have successfullygarnered the participation of a select group of golfers.They are players of different ages possessing a plethora of playing styles that express a breadth of technical finesse. Together, they are set to light up the playing field and give all golfing fans an unforgettable treat." - Zhang Lianwei, 2011 Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters Ambassador.

13th September 2011

The total prize money, player lineup and course facilities of the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters make it a modern entrant into the pantheon of world-class golf Masters. Ever since the press conference was launched in August of this year, a palpable buzz has been generated and felt by the Chinese golfing community. The total prize winnings will be US$5,000,000 dollars, of which a heftyUS$2,000,000 dollars will go to the winner.

The golfers who have confirmed their participation in the Lake Malaren Shanghai Mastersare Former British Open champion John Daly, twice US Open champion Retief Goosen,Revered English golfers Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, Holder of 8 PGA tour titles Jim Furyk, 2009 PGA tour champion Ye Yang and the 2010 Asian Tour Order of Merit Winner Noh Seung-yul from South Korea. All around the world, all eyes will be trained on this stellar line-upgracing the Shanghai Lake Malaren Golf Course in October.

All of these outstanding golf players have helped to cement the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters position as one of golf's elite competitions. In their efforts to make this tournament worth watching, organizers have taken great care in preparing the invite list which literally contains a who's-who of the golfing world.

Paul Casey is a player who has carved out his destiny and made his mark in China. In the 2005 VOLVO China Open, he was crowned champion with a 13 under par 275 total. This marked his fifth win of the European tour, and also his sixth victory on Chinese soil. Casey has come to see China as his promised land, "WhenIcame to know of this great tournament in China, I accepted the invitation in a heartbeat. I love to play golf in China. I have had some fantastic experiences here. I believe I can get a good result in the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters"said Paul Casey.

Ian Poulterbelongs to the same generation as Paul Casey. Nicknamed"Colorful Butterfly", his quirky sense of dressing and style never fails to attract the crowd'sattention and stir up conversation. "A Lot of fanslike my golf wet-suits. I like that I can show my personal sense of style while I play golf in Lake Malaren, but my stamina will still be my focus for this competition. I have been in good form recently and as I attach great importance to this tournament, I definitely look to getting a good result here."

Korean golfer Noh Seung-Yul represents the up and coming generation of golf'srising stars. At the age of 20, he exudes a maturity beyond his years. The chair of the Asian Tour Organizing Committee offered high words of praise for this young player, "He handles the pressure like a pro and has great potential to join the ranks of golf's elite in the future". Facing the press he displayed an admirable sense of humility, "With an attitude of always seeking to learn and improve, I hope to make each competition a valuable learning experience"

One of Asia's golfing legends and Asian Grand Slam winner Yang Yong Eun, has had a great run in theworld of professional golf. He beat Tiger Woods in spectacular fashion to win the 2009 PGA title, becoming the first Asian to ever achieve such a feat. When asked about his and SeungYul's chances at the Shanghai Masters, he reserved his praises for SeungYul, having firm faith in this 20 year olds bright future in golf.

British Open Champion John Daly, though older than the rest of the playing field, brings to the table his wealth of experience and his unique style of play that has won him fans all over the world. "I heard that Malaren Lake got this course specially redesigned just for the Shanghai Masters. I'm really excited to tee-off on this Nicklaus-designed course and play my game"

Also known as "The Grinder", Jim Furyk, winner of multiple PGA tour events, reckons that he stands a good chance of winning the Shanghai Masters. "Playing in Shanghai China, for me, will be a refreshing experience. I understand that many top players will be taking part. Coupled with a newly designed course, I believe that this competition can be anyone's game. I'm looking forward to competing against some of the best golfers in the world and I'll be playing every shot to the best of my ability." Needless to say, fans will be treated to a display of Jim's signature looping golf swing that defies convention.

With a premier cast of players taking to the green, the Malaren Lake Shanghai Masters will be set alight. The various government sports bodies, sports associations, local governments and corporate sponsors have helped bring a Grand Slam-level event to China. The competition will be played over 72 holes of golf with no eliminations. Starting from 2011, the next 5 Shanghai Masters events are set to be held here at Malaren Lake. Local fans can look forward to more golfing legends gracing this event in the coming years, playing up a storm and creating page after page of golfing history, right here in China.