HERTFORDSHIRE, England – The International Federation of PGA Tours announced Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement with Mission Hills Golf Club in China to host the World Cup in 2007 and 2008, and to host a World Golf Championships event at Mission Hills through 2018.

The World Golf Championships-Mission Hills World Cup will be held Nov. 19-25, 2007, at the Jose Maria Olazabal-designed Olazabal Course at Mission Hills Golf Club in China, located just 30 minutes from the Hong Kong border. It will mark the first time the World Golf Championships have visited China.

George O’Grady, executive director of The European Tour, commented on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours: “We congratulate the Mission Hills Golf Club on its commitment to host the World Golf Championships–Mission Hills World Cup in China in 2007 and 2008.

“Since their debut in 1999, World Golf Championships have visited some of the world’s best golf courses, and we are proud to add the superb Olazabal Course at Mission Hills to this distinguished list.”

“We are delighted to announce the World Golf Championships-Mission Hills World Cup for the next two years and look forward to working with Mission Hills Golf Club in staging a World Golf Championships event China for many years,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “The Mission Hills World Cup has held an esteemed position within the golf world for decades, and has done as much to promote golf around the world as any event in the sport.”

The Mission Hills World Cup is part of the World Golf Championships, a series of global events that bring the world’s best golfers together in competition in various formats at a variety of venues.

Up to 28 nations, including China as host country, will participate in this prestigious event, which will offer a purse of $5 million.

“We are pleased with the commitment by Mission Hills to host the World Cup in 2007 and 2008,” said Jon Linen, chairman of the International Golf Association. “The World Cup was the first golf event in China in 1995 and we look forward to going back.”

“On behalf of the Asian Tour it is my pleasure to welcome the World Golf Championships-Mission Hills World Cup to Asia,” said outgoing Asian Tour Chief Executive Louis Martin. “The Mission Hills World Cup has a long tradition of being staged at great venues around the world, including in 1995 when the event was previously played at Mission Hills, and we are proud to welcome this prestigious event back to China.”

“The PGA Tour of Australasia is excited to welcome Mission Hills Golf Club as host venue for the Mission Hills World Cup,” said Ben Sellenger, chief executive of the PGA Tour of Australasia. “Bringing this prestigious event to China will help grow the game in the region, and we look forward to a successful relationship.”

“The Sunshine Tour congratulates Mission Hills Golf Club and China on this announcement,” said Johan Immelman, commissioner of the Sunshine Tour. “We look forward to sharing in the excitement as the World Golf Championships come to China for the first time for what is certain to be a superb competition.”

“On behalf of Japan Golf Tour, I am pleased to welcome Mission Hills Golf Club to host the Mission Hills World Cup,” said Kosaku Shimada, chairman of the Japan Golf Tour Organization. “Mission Hills is a great and perfect venue for such a world class event as the World Golf Championships and has experienced numbers of great events in the past years. There is no doubt that not only players but everyone will enjoy the week.”

“I am delighted to welcome the World Golf Championships to China,” said Mr. Liu Peng, China’s Minister of Sports. “The 21st Century will be a very important period of transition for Chinese society. China will become more open and have a broader horizon concerning sport. The World Golf Championships will also present a significant cultural opportunity to take China to another level internationally. As sport, and this event in particular, will help China to integrate on a global level.”