Integrated resort operator Wynn Macau has announced a partnership with The International Series to bring a prestigious golf tournament to Macau in March 2024, underscoring the city’s appeal as a sports and international tourism destination.
The multiyear partnership between the two entities was revealed in a press conference held at Wynn’s Cotai resort, Wynn Palace, on Monday. Known as The International Series Macau presented by Wynn, the tournament will be one of the 10 International Series events in the 2024 season on the Asian Tour, the leading men’s professional golf tour in Asia.
“We are proud to sponsor the very first International Series Macau, part of a new elite tier of sporting events and entertaining offerings in Asia,” Linda Chan, President and Vice Chairman of the Board of Wynn Macau Limited, said in the press conference.
“This world-class golf tournament underscores our commitment to supporting the Macau SAR Government’s ‘1+4’ diversification development strategy, growing the sports industry, and strengthening the city’s position as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure,” she added.
The “1+4” diversification development strategy, which has been advanced by the Macau government in recent years, aims to position the city as a prominent global tourism destination while nurturing four emerging sectors: health and wellness, modern finance, technology, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), culture, and sports.
In addition to showcasing top-tier golf talent at the Macau Golf and Country Club in March 2024, the week-long International Series Macau will also feature “world-class entertainment and activities” at Wynn Palace, according to the operator.
“This internationally-acclaimed sporting event will enhance Macau’s global reputation and attract international visitors to the city,” Chen added. Pun Weng Kun, President of the Macau Sports Bureau, also attended the Monday press conference.
Macau received nearly 20 million visitors in the first nine months of 2023, with overseas visitors accounting for about 4.3 percent of total arrivals, the official data said.
Growing golf scene in GBA
The International Series, which is also backed by LIV Golf, has gained momentum since its inception in 2022, and the 2023 schedule includes tournaments held in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, Thailand, England, and other locations.
“The International Series offers a dynamic platform with a proven track record for attracting big names,” Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said in the press conference. “I would like to express my gratitude to Wynn Macau for allowing us to break new ground in Macau, helping the Asian Tour and LIV Golf continue to develop what is now becoming the highest-level golf tournament series in Asia.”
The total prize money for the 2024 season of The International Series would increase by about US$5 million from the current season to over US$23 million, while the prize pool for The International Series Macau 2024 alone would stand close to US$2 million, Singh added.
Also addressing the press conference on Wednesday, Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner and CEO of the Asian Tour, said, “We are truly excited that The International Series will visit Macau for the first time in 2024.”
“The Tour has visited Macau with regularity over the past two decades, and today’s announcement is a tremendous development for golf in Macau’s burgeoning Greater Bay Area,” he added. “As far as the Asian Tour is concerned, we’re growing and we’re in a great position right now: we’ve had two great weeks in the Greater Bay Area, and we look forward to continuing this momentum in this region in March next year.”
The two legs of The International Series 2023 held in Mainland China and in Hong Kong have just concluded earlier this month, with the latter event taking place over the past weekend.
Gathering world-class players
During the press conference held in Macau on Monday, three renowned golfers also expressed their enthusiasm for the upcoming golf event in the city. Patrick Reed, who secured victory in the 2018 Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf, described Macau as a “stunning” and “ideal” destination for The International Series.
“From a player perspective, it is a great addition to the calendar where you get to play world-class golf against a quality field while staying at the Wynn Palace, one of the finest luxury resort hotels in Macau,” he said. Visiting Macau for the first time, the American golfer added that he was impressed by the city’s hospitality, which “makes the experience so much better”.
Graeme McDowell, a golfer from Northern Ireland and winner of the U.S. Open, another major golf championship, also experienced Macau for the first time. “The International Series is a perfect fit for Macau as golf in China continues to develop,” he said in the press conference. “I look forward to playing tournament golf in front of the knowledgeable golf fans of the region.”
Andy Ogletree, a two-time winner on The International Series in 2023 so far, emphasised the significance of the Macau event next year as a “must-attend” tournament. “There is obviously real demand and great golf here, and this is a market that is only going to grow,” he remarked. “Bringing some of the world’s best players next season can only help cement Macau’s place on the international golf market.”
*This article is part of the MNA Wynn Macau Tourism Plus Partnership Series
