TIGER WOODS AND RORY MCILROY SET FOR TROPICAL SHOWDOWN AT MISSION HILLS HAIKOU

World’s Famous Golfers to Play The Match at Mission Hills for the First Time in Hainan, China

[September 11, 2013] Haikou, China: Golf’s world No. 1 and major winners Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will go head-to-head in a two-man 18-hole contest for the first time at “The Match at Mission Hills” on October 28, in Hainan, China.

The Match will be staged on Mission Hill’s highly acclaimed Blackstone Course – one of 10 Schmidt-Curley designed golf courses set amidst spectacular black volcanic lava rock at Mission Hills Haikou Resort in China’s southern-most island.

Speaking ahead of the announcement, Woods, winner of 79 PGA Tour titles said, “The Match at Mission Hills is geared to be a great contest with the great setting in Haikou, and I’m excited about playing there for the first time. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Blackstone, so it looks like a great location for the re-match with Rory, whom I know has played there before in the World Cup. I’ve played at Mission Hills on the mainland, but this will be my first time playing at their Haikou’s resort and I’m looking forward to visiting HainanIsland for the first time.”

“I’m hoping to win this time. I’ve had a really good year on the PGA Tour, so it would be nice to earn another trophy in China.” Woods continued.

Opened in 2010, the championship Blackstone course was named Asia’s “Best New Course” by GOLF Magazine (U.S.) and “Asia Pacific Best Championship Course” by the Asian Golf Monthly magazine. The course also hosted Asia’s only golf and entertainment event Mission Hills World Celebrity Pro Am and the 2011 World Cup of Golf in which McIlroy tied in fourth with playing partner and countryman Graeme McDowell, as Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland of the USA emerged victorious.

Current World’s No. 4, McIlroy, who had played twice at the World Cup of Golf in Mission Hills, claimed that he is very much ready for the challenge set by the in-form Woods, pointing to the advantage he will take from having had match experience on the Blackstone Course back in 2011:

“I’m expecting a lot of fun this time in Hainan. Tiger has played better golf this year, but I feel like I’m getting my game back again and I enjoy any challenge, especially against Tiger, so I’m ready for another showdown,” said McIlroy.

“It is really special when you can generate a kind of enthusiasm for a two-player match. I’ve enjoyed playing at Blackstone before and hopefully it should give me a bit of an edge having already played the course,” added the 24 year old Northern Irishman.

The Match at Mission Hills is the latest highly-anticipated event to be hosted by the Mission Hills Group, which has hosted over 100 international tournaments and has been at the forefront of China’s golf scene since hosting the World Cup of Golf in 1995.
 
Ken Chu, Chairman and CEO of Mission Hills Group, said: “Mission Hills has always been devoted to promoting international exchange and goodwill through golf. The Match at Mission Hills between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy brings two of sport’s biggest stars together at Mission Hills and Hainan for the first time. It will undoubtedly support the growth of the game of golf in the region and across China, and further cement the government-led initiative in making Hainan a leading international tourism destination.”