The inaugural tournament was played in November 2005 at the Sheshan Golf Club, Shanghai – where the event still remains. In 2009 the WGC-HSBC Champions was awarded world golf championships status, meaning it’s the fourth tournament to be given that title on the worldwide golf calendar alongside the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, the WGC-Cadillac Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational events.
Outside of the four majors, the WGC-HSBC Champions attracts one of the strongest fields from across the globe. With a prize fund of $7,000,000 and world golf championships status, the WGC-HSBC Champions is one not to be missed on the golfing calendar.
Emirates has been a partner in the event since it became the WGC-HSBC Champions in 2009 and the contract runs through until after the 2012 event. At the tournament, Emirates looks to bring golf fans closer to the action through a number of activation programmes both pre and during the event.
Since its inception, the WGC-HSBC Champions has seen a number of high-profile winners including Phil Mickelson twice, Sergio Garcia, Francesco Molinari and Martin Kaymer.
Emirates also sponsors The Ryder Cup, UBS Hong Kong Open, Dubai World Championship, BMW International Open 2012, Japan Open, WGC-HSBC Champions, Emirates Australian Open Championship, Australian PGA Championship, Austrian Golf Open, Avantha Masters, Ballantine’s Championship, Barclays Singapore Open, Maybank Malaysian Open, Thailand Open and Alstom Open de France.