New partnership to boost sport in China
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The China Golf Association and Rolex signed a strategic partnership agreement yesterday that will lead to closer cooperation in the development of golf in China.
The Swiss watchmaker will also become the sole sponsor of the Chinese version of the book "Rules of Golf," published by the Royal & Ancient (R&A) and which is regarded as the bible of the sport.
Bruno Meier, Worldwide CEO of Rolex SA, and Zhang Xiaoning, Director of Multi-Ball Games Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport, attended the signing ceremony in Shanghai yesterday and unveiled the Chinese version of the "Rules of Golf."
Liang Wenchong, China's top-ranked player, also attended the ceremony as a player representative.
Meanwhile, the draw for the 2010 HSBC Champions, which starts tomorrow at Sheshan Golf Club, was held yesterday.
Rivals for the world No. 1 spot will go head-to-head at the World Golf Championship event. Tiger Woods, newly-crowned world No. 1 Lee Westwood and their closest rivals Masters champion Phil Mickelson and PGA champion Martin Kaymer posed with swords on the city's famous riverfront yesterday symbolizing the start of what could be an epic battle to decide who tops the world rankings by the end of this week.
The match-up at the HSBC Champions marks the first time since 1997 that as many as four players have entered an event with the chance to take over the top spot.
Woods has dominated the rankings since July 1997, when he finally ended Greg Norman's reign. Since then the American superstar has only briefly ceded the No. 1 position in 2004 and 2005 to Vijay Singh and Ernie Els, respectively, and in April 1999 to David Duval.
"To be No. 1 in the world you have to win regularly, and I haven't done that lately," Woods said yesterday.
Westwood said that he knew the moment his status as the new No. 1 was confirmed, Tiger would have him in his sights. "It's an honor in itself, to be the one who ended Tiger's five years as the top golfer on the planet and of course we all know him well enough to know he'll respond," the 37-year-old Englishman said.
