Sponsor renewals bolster Asian game

HSBC on Monday announced the renewal of what the banking giant describes as "three key pillars of its global golf brand partnership portfolio"－namely its sponsorship of the HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore, the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program.

The multinational says all three partnerships are "key components of HSBC's global brand partnership activities". It added the multi-year sponsorship renewals "will secure the future of one of the most successful grassroots golf programs in the world and two of the biggest golf events in Asia".

Returning to their established homes of Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore and Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, the two flagship events are regarded by players as 'Asia's majors', and have been credited with being a catalyst for the growth of golf on the continent.

Established in 2007, the CGA HSBC China Junior Golf Program is a highly respected junior development pathway, run in conjunction with the China Golf Association (CGA), with notable alumni including Li Haotong, Dou Zecheng, Liu Yu and Lin Xiyun.

The CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program was created to help nurture future talent, as well as to bring the sport to more young people. Since 2007, the initiative has put golf clubs in the hands of over 110,000 children across 25 cities and 18 provinces.

Over the next five years, the initiative promises to unearth more Chinese talent and will enable thousands more children to enjoy the health and well-being benefits of golf.

Zhang Xiaoning, president of the China Golf Association, said: "Golf has been developing rapidly in China. For over 10 years the CGA-HSBC China Junior Golf Program has trained and developed a large number of excellent players in China with many of them getting to realize their dream on the stage of Asia's major, the WGC-HSBC Champions."

Jonathan Castleman, HSBC's group head of brand and brand partnerships, said: "We are pleased to be extending our commitment to these important brand partnerships, in order to support and grow the game of golf in Asia. When we first introduced the HSBC Champions format to Shanghai in 2005 and Singapore in 2008, professional golf in Asia was in its relative infancy.

"Today, the world's best golfers appear in 'Asia's majors' 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 promote the game at all levels by inspiring future generations to take part in the sport."

Sanctioned by the International Federation of PGA Tours since it was elevated to World Golf Championships status, the WGC-HSBC Champions has consistently attracted world-class fields.

Ty Votaw, executive vice-president of the International Federation of PGA Tours, said: "We are delighted that HSBC has renewed their support of this important World Golf Championships event. We look forward to continuing to work with HSBC and ensuring the event's continued success which plays an important role in growing and developing our sport in China and across Asia.

"Our thanks to HSBC, the China Golf Association and all the fans in China who have helped make this event so successful since it became a World Golf Championships event in 2009."