Hugh Grant to star at Mission Hills
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Mission Hills continues its dynamic role at the forefront of the golf boom in China with the launch of the Mission Hills Star Trophy, a ground-breaking Celebrity Pro-Am tournament featuring several of the biggest names in entertainment and sports and the richest individual prize in Asian golf.
Headlining the inaugural event, to be played from October 28-31 at the newly launched Mission Hills Resort Hainan, will be international movie stars and celebrity golfers Hugh Grant and Matthew McConaughey.
Two-time Open winner Greg Norman, China’s multiple Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Li Ning and Japan’s #1 comedian and talk show host Akashiya Sanma will serve as Host Ambassadors for the Mission Hills Star Trophy.
The professional segment of the event will feature 20 male and female professional golfers competing for a ‘winner takes all’ prize of US$1.28 million, the richest individual prize in Asian golf.
Norman and China’s golfing trailblazer Zhang Liang-wei will participate in the Mission Hills Star Trophy, along with 2010 Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Corey Pavin.
The professional field will also include two of the game’s biggest female superstars, Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak.
Norman said both fun and serious golf will be part of the Star Trophy experience. “The time is right for Asia to create an event that combines golf and entertainment. The world sees the importance of the China market to their future and look forward to coming to the Mission Hills Star Trophy.
“As a golfer, the ‘winner takes all’ first-place cheque will ensure that the event is both exciting and features high-calibre golf,” he added.
Bringing together Hollywood’s A-list, international stars and leading professional golfers, the tournament is destined to be Asia’s leading annual entertainment event.
The exclusive Celebrity Pro-Am will be played at the Mission Hills Group’s world-class new golf lifestyle development, Mission Hills Resort Hainan, which recently opened on the tropical island of Hainan.
McConaughey, who has played off a handicap as low as four in the past, said: “Join me on the lava fields of Hainan Island, China this October for golf’s latest amazing adventure, the Mission Hills Star Trophy. See you on the links.”
Added Grant, who plays off a single-digit handicap: “It’s going to be a golfing experience beyond everybdoy’s wildest dreams.”
The superstar participants will be part of a field that includes 20 celebrities, 20 professionals and 120 amateurs at the four-day Mission Hills Star Trophy.
Amateur teams of three will play with a celebrity or professional golfer on the first two days of the event in a team scramble format.
Weekend play will then be in four-ball stroke play format between 20 teams consisting of a celebrity and a professional, with a 36-hole individual professional event running concurrently with the US$1.28 million prize.
