A new professional golf tour will make its debut in China in 2014. Announced on Nov. 3, the PGA Tour China is based on a newly-established partnership between the China Golf Association, the PGA Tour and the China Olympic Sports Industry, an events promoter. Open qualifying tournaments are planned for the beginning of the year, with the first professional tournaments scheduled for March. The tour, with 12 tournaments throughout the country, will also be open to professionals from outside of China. Purses will be in the $200,000 range per tournament. Plans are to increase the number of events after the first year. A retail licensing agreement calls for the establishment of a first series of nearly 40 PGA Tour-branded stores in China, with more planned later on.

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