PGA Tour China

{{use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}

{{short description|Professional golf tour}}

{{Infobox Sports league

| title = PGA Tour China

| current_season =

| logo = PGA Tour China logo.svg

| pixels = 200px

| caption =

| Formerly = Ping An Bank China Tour-PGA Tour China Series

| sport = Golf

| founded = 2014

| fame =

| motto =

| inaugural = 2014

| teams =

| country = Based in China{{efn|Schedules have included events in Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand.}}

| venue =

| champion =

| most_champs = Tournament wins:
{{flagicon|CHN}} Dou Zecheng (4)
{{flagicon|USA}} Charlie Saxon (4)

| qualification =

| folded = 2020

| website =

| singles =

| ceo =

| director =

| TV =

| related_comps = China Tour
PGA Tour Canada
PGA Tour Latinoamérica

| founder = PGA Tour

}}

PGA Tour China was a third level professional golf tour formed in 2014 and operated by the PGA Tour. After a hiatus in 2017, the tour resumed in 2018.{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/19352312/pga-tour-cancel-china-series-three-year-run |title=PGA Tour's China Series delayed due to issues |work=ESPN |date=10 May 2017 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=13 July 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pgatour.com/pga-tour-china/news/2017/10/24/pga-tour-china-2018.html |title=PGA Tour China ready to launch in 2018 |date=24 October 2017 |publisher=PGA Tour |access-date=13 July 2023}} After canceling its entire 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour effectively ceased operation.

History

The United States–based PGA Tour formed the tour in 2014, joining PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamérica as their international developmental tours.{{cite news |url=http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golftalkcentral/pga-tour-to-be-part-of-new-circuit-in-china/ |title=PGA Tour to be part of new circuit in China |work=Golf Channel |date=3 November 2013 |access-date=13 July 2023}} Similar to the Canadian and Latinoamérica tours, PGA Tour China offered a path to the Korn Ferry Tour for top finishers. It also offered Official World Golf Ranking points to the top-six finishers at each tournament. The top five finishers on the Order of Merit at the end of the season received promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour.

In January 2014, PGA Tour China announced qualifying procedures and a 12-event season to begin in April. Two 72-hole qualifying tournaments were played in March. Each event awarded 20 full-time Tour cards, and conditional cards to the next 20 players plus those tied. For its inaugural season, PGA Tour China gave exemptions to the top 70 according to the China Golf Association rankings. After the 40 qualifiers and 70 from the rankings, the balance of the fields were filled through sponsor exemptions, Monday qualifiers and eligible players from the Web.com Tour, PGA Tour Latinoamérica, and PGA Tour Canada.{{cite web |url=http://www.pgatourchina.com/en/xinwenliebiao/59.html |title=China Tour-PGA Tour China Series Announces First Portion of 2014 Schedule and Two Qualifying Sites |date=29 January 2014 |publisher=PGA Tour China |access-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203164838/http://www.pgatourchina.com/en/xinwenliebiao/59.html |archive-date=3 February 2014}} Zhang Lianwei hit the first tee shot in PGA Tour China history.{{cite web |url=http://pgatourchina.com/en/xinwenliebiao/170.html |title=Zhang Makes History by Hitting First Tee Shot on PGA Tour China Series |publisher=PGA Tour |date=17 April 2014 |first=Laury |last=Livsey |access-date=17 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418234159/http://pgatourchina.com/en/xinwenliebiao/170.html |archive-date=18 April 2014}}

In April 2015, Ping An Bank became the title sponsor of the tour, being renamed as the Ping An Bank China Tour-PGA Tour China Series.{{cite web |url=https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/news/pga-tour-china-secures-first-title-sponsor/ |title=PGA Tour China secures first title sponsor |work=Sport Business Sponsorship |date=2 April 2015 |access-date=13 July 2023}}

Seasons

{{main article|PGA Tour China seasons}}

Order of Merit winners

class=wikitable

!Year!!Winner!!Prize money (CN¥)

2020colspan=2 align=center|Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019{{flagicon|USA}} Max McGreevyalign=center|974,153
2018{{flagicon|ENG}} Callum Tarrenalign=center|1,094,600
2016{{flagicon|CHN}} Dou Zechengalign=center|1,144,350
2015{{flagicon|AUS}} Bryden Macphersonalign=center|769,960
2014{{flagicon|CHN}} Li Haotongalign=center|967,788

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}