HAIKOU: The widely anticipated Grand China Air LPGA is set to tee off today at Hainan West Coast Golf Club.

Sixty-three of the world's best players, including the leading 51 players on the LPGA Official Money List this year, compete for $1.8 million during the three-day event.

It is the first time the LPGA has staged an event in China and is the richest tournament on the LPGA's annual end-of-year Asian swing.

The inaugural Grand China Air LPGA features Rolex Rankings world number two Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, Chinese Taipei's third-ranked Tseng Ya-ni, the 2008 McDonald's LPGA Championship winner, and Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, who is fourth in the world.

The line-up also includes 2008 United States Women's Open champion Park In-bee of South Korea, Sweden's Helen Alfredsson, Koreans Lee Seon Hwa and Choi Na Yeon and the United States' Cristie Kerr. All five players are ranked in the top 10 on the current LPGA Official Money List.

Among the others in the field are Morgan Pressel, Pak Se Ri and Juli Inkster, plus Koreans Jang Jeong, Ji Eun Hee, and Kim Song Hee and Angela Park of Brazil, the last four of whom are in the LPGA's top-15 money winners this season. Eight Chinese professionals and four invitations also participate in the first-ever LPGA event in China.

Unique opening

Rising Chinese star Feng Shanshan and glamour girl Morgan Pressel, fresh off her thrilling victory in last weekend's Kapalua LPGA Classic, were among the players who enjoyed an exclusive Grand China Air charter flight direct from Hawaii to Haikou on Tuesday, ensuring they had a restful journey to China.

At Haikou Meilan International Airport, the two young players blasted drives from the wing of a 737 jumbo jet, launching the inaugural Grand China Air LPGA.

Feng, in just her first season on the LPGA Tour, was impressed by the unique tournament opening.

"My first year on the LPGA Tour has certainly been a season of new experiences, but this was something I had never imagined I would be doing.

"I was a bit nervous climbing up there for the first time, because I did not realize how high it was until I got up on the wing swinging golf clubs. But it was great fun and I really enjoyed it. Now I can concentrate on the tournament itself, which is very important to me as a Chinese player," Feng said.

Eye on trophy

Feng posted two top-five finishes in her last three LPGA starts, including a fourth place two weeks ago. With her family originally from Qionghai of Hainan, the 19-year-old hopes to do well.

"Having seen so many of my countrymen do so well at the Olympic Games in Beijing, it is a great motivation to win the tournament. I may not receive a gold medal, but to be the first player to win the first LPGA tournament in my hometown would be one of the greatest moments I can imagine," Feng said.

However, she will have a tough challenge because almost all participating golfers are looking forward to win in China's first official LPGA Tour event.

Rolex Rankings' world number four Suzann Pettersen has had an excellent season this year, posting eight top-10 finishes, including a runner-up placing last weekend behind Morgan Pressel at the Kapalua LPGA Classic in Hawaii. She has her eye on her first LPGA victory of 2008 at Hainan West Coast Golf Club.

"Last year, I won several times and it was a fantastic year. And this year I have no wins so far (in the US) and I have two wins in Europe. I am still quite pleased with the season, but a win this week or next week would make a big difference," said Pettersen.

Course for birdies

The Hainan West Coast Golf Club has endured more heavy rain in the last 10 days, although it has drained relatively well after hot and sunny conditions this week.

Almost all the participating golfers walked or played the back nine hole of the golf club after they landed.

"I got there this morning and played the back nine. It is a very good golf course and it's very long, with all the rain it's had. It's going to be playing a little bit longer, but at the same time you can be much more aggressive coming into the greens," Pettersen said.

"I think the girls are going to make a lot of birdies on this golf course. Especially as wet as it is, the greens are going to hold pretty well. I think you're going to see a lot of good golf, a lot of tight shots and girls are going to be aiming at the pin and there are a lot of putts that will be made. So, you'll have to go out and make a lot of birdies, I think," said Morgan Pressel at a press conference before the tournament when she talked about the course.

Step forward

Zhu Yimin, president of Grand China Air, expressed excitement at the successful opening of the first LPGA tournament in China and also good wishes for all players.

"Grand China Air, along with our partners at the China Golf Association and IMG, inaugurated this tournament to help share our name with the world as we continue to grow into a world-class brand.

"The Grand China Air LPGA was created to provide both a stepping stone for the development of women's professional golf in China and to complement Grand China Air's international plans for expansion," Zhu said.

"To have our Chinese women players competing against the world's best this year in Hainan, we could not be happier. We are confident that this tournament will be one of the highlights on China's sporting calendar in 2008 and will not only be a great step for women's golf in China, but also our airline," Zhu added.

Grand China Air is a subsidiary of the Hainan Airlines Group (HNAGroup), one of the four largest airline companies in China and aims to become a world-class brand.

Showcasing the world's best female golfers at the Grand China Air LPGA will be the Hainan West Coast Golf Club, located on the western side of Haikou city. The club opened three years ago, features fresh breezes from the South China Sea and has the city as a spectacular backdrop.

(China Daily 10/24/2008 page24)