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HSBC Champions in China elevated to World Golf Championship event

That means both the PGA and LPGA Tour have tour stops in China now. From AP-

The HSBC Champions in China has been elevated to a World Golf Championship this year with a new qualifying criteria and a $7 million purse, the highest ever for a golf tournament in Asia.

Tiger Woods already has said he will play, along with defending champion Sergio Garcia.

The HSBC Champions began in 2005 and had been sanctioned by every major golf tour except the PGA Tour. That changes with its designation as the fourth World Golf Championship, and the only one not staged in the United States.

Woods was runner-up his first two times playing the HSBC Champions, and will return for the Nov. 5-8 event.

The continuing globalization of professional golf tours. I don’t see the PGA becoming as world-wide as the LPGA Tour has become.

Update- Steve Elling has more about the HSBC status on the PGA Tour-

Because of concerns that the cash-heavy, limited-field event would badly skew the PGA Tour money list with only one week remaining in the season, the HSBC victory and any tournament earnings will be considered unofficial in the U.S. Moreover, the winner won’t get the customary two-year PGA Tour exemption, either, or a berth in the Masters.

The tournament is at the very end of the PGA schedule, and has a limited field. It would only skew money for people who won lots to start with. Elling goes on to say it could have a lower player bump someone from the top 30. I think its just dumb not to count it. Either HSBC is a PGA Tournament or isn’t.

 
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