Sponsor: China 'too immature' to host World Cup
- By Ryan Ballengee
- Nov 27, 2011 12:51 PM ET
Watchmaker Omega, title sponsor of the Mission Hills World Cup, does not believe China is a suitable venue to host the biennial event.
Omega president Stephen Urquhart said Sunday he was unhappy with both the field strength, as well as holding the event in China - a market he deemed incapable of handling the event.
"China is too immature a market to put the World Cup where it should be. It's too early for China to support by itself a tournament on this scale," Urquhart said, according to AFP.
Urquhart desires to see the tournament move around the globe, as does the World Cup in other sports. The event has been held in China since 2007, when the event was dropped from the World Golf Championships lineup.
Brothers Kenneth and Tenniel Chu, developers of the Mission Hills resort on Hainan Island, say they plan to honor a contract to host the World Cup at the resort through 2025.
Urquhart feels, however, that the event needs to be retooled to attract better players. A change in format, akin to the Olympic tournament to be played in 2016, could improve the field.
"If a World Cup of golf is done properly, sold properly and packaged properly, no one would ever go and play in another tournament," he said.
Six of the top 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking competed in the event.
-
Tags: WGC World Cup
Related Articles
WGC-World Cup heading to Royal Melbourne
by Ryan Lavner | May 11, 2013 9:42 AM ETThis year's World Cup competition will be played this November at famed Royal Melbourne in Australia. Read More
Kuchar, Woodland win World Cup
by Associated Press | Nov 27, 2011 3:57 AM ETMatt Kuchar and Gary Woodland won the World Cup on Sunday, taking advantage of a collapse by the Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. Read More
World Beaters
by Associated Press | Nov 27, 2011 3:57 AM ETMatt Kuchar and Gary Woodland won the World Cup, taking advantage of a collapse by the Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell. Read More
Ballengee is a GolfChannel.com contributor who writes for GTC and Fantasy Insider.
Latest News
- Garcia apologizes for "fried chicken" comment
- USGA, R&A ban anchored stroke | Explanation
- Infographic: What's legal, illegal | Timeline
- Video: Woods talks Garcia feud | Won't clear air
- Simpson takes to Twitter, calls for bifurcation
- Z. Johnson, Dufner reunited at Crowne Plaza
- Steele: Expect a player to sue USGA, R&A
- Uihlein's amazing journey | Tour on fans calling in
- Peterson to donate to Okla. tornado victims
- Pettersson asks for 'a few days' | Pavin's take
- Manufacturer: 'Golf lost today' | Time to adapt
- Weekly Fix: Exposing a great golf instruction myth








