Golf

SEOUL — The US PGA Tour confirmed on Thursday that South Korea’s stop on their new three-event Asian swing later this year will be held on the resort island of Jeju from October 19-22.

The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges will carry one of the biggest prize funds on the US PGA Tour at US$9.25 million and have a select field of 78 players.

"I am very pleased that Nine Bridges will host the inaugural event on Jeju at a course that will give a demanding test for some of the world’s best golfers," said Jeff Monday, senior vice-president Asia tournaments for the PGA Tour, at a signing ceremony in Jeju on Thursday.

"The opportunity to play Korea’s first official PGA Tour and FedEx Cup event on Jeju, combined with the natural beauty of the island, makes for a special event."

Following South Korea’s successful hosting of the 2015 Presidents Cup, the tour signed a deal last October to stage an event in the country for the next 10 years.

It will be the US PGA’s first tour event to be held in golf-mad South Korea.

The CJ Cup will be the second of event on the PGA Tour’s expanded Asian swing to start their 2017-18 season.

It will follow the 2017 CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which will be played from October 12-15.

After the CJ Cup on the sub-tropical southern island’s Nine Bridges layout, the players will make the short flight to Shanghai, China, for the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions at Sheshan from October 26-29. — AFP