After attracting big names such as former US Open champions Geoff Ogilvy, Michael Campbell and Retief Goosen in the past three years, the Buddha Cup China Golf Challenge has made a U-turn for next month's fourth edition.

 

Organizers will shift focus from a star-studded international line-up to entertain spectators with one short show to give top local golfers a stage for good competition and improve China's long-term prospects in the sport.

 

"We decided not to invite any international stars this year," Liu Gang, the tournament director, said.

 

"Chinese top players are what we want this time. From now on, we hope to turn this competition to become a regular event for Chinese golfers and the best professional golf event in China."

 

Founded in 2004, the tournament has become a hot topic among Chinese golf fans, especially the successful second event when local heroes Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong teamed up to defeat world champion pair Goosen and Campbell.

 

But it has struggled to make an even bigger impact because of its limited entry -- just four players, two from overseas and two locals, have been invited each year and played only two days.

 

Officials from the Chinese Golf Association praised the change, calling it a "timely move".

 

"China's golf has enjoyed a fast improvement recently and we do not need to fully depend on overseas big stars to attract attention from the public," said Zhang Xiaoning, executive vice-president and secretary-general of the association.

 

"Now it is the right time to focus on our own players.

 

"The Buddha Cup is reaching a turning point.

 

"I am grateful that it has helped to increase the sport's popularity in China before, but now I am happier about the role it will play in the future."

 

This year's tournament is only open to Chinese mainland players with the top 60 in the overall rankings of China's professional golf tour this season.

 

The top 10 amateurs are also eligible to play in the 18-hole four-day tournament at Beijing's Taiwei Golf Club from October 25 to 28.

 

Total prize money is 2 million yuan (US$263,000) and the winner will pocket (US$47300).

 

Zhang said the tournament somewhat remedies China's busy but unbalanced golf schedule.

 

A batch of world-class tournaments, such as the Volvo Open, BMW Open, HSBC Championships began arriving in China in 1996, but it was not until two years ago that China set up its own professional tour event.

 

"We need tournaments of different levels so that our players can go up step by step," Zhang said.

 

(China Daily September 26, 2007)