SHANGHAI – Feb. 5, 2005 – Asia's top players will go head-to-head with six of the game's leading stars including defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez and world number three Ernie Els in the BMW Asian Open 2005 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club from April 28-May 1.

Title sponsor BMW also announced that China's top golfer Zhang Lian-wei, seven-time European Tour number one Colin Montgomerie, six-time Major winner Nick Faldo and inaugural BMW Asian Open champion Jarmo Sandelin will compete in the US$1.5 million event which is sanctioned by the China Golf Association, Asian Tour and European Tour.

All eyes will be on the self-taught Zhang, who will be driving for a home victory. He said: "The competitors taking part in the BMW Asian Open 2005 are even better than in the previous year. No matter how the tournament ends, it is a challenge and an honour at the same time for me to play in Shanghai."

Jochen Goller, General Manager Marketing of BMW Group Region China Import Operation said: "The BMW Asian Open has now become one of the leading golf tournaments in Asia. With our move to Shanghai, we have given golf in the growing China market a new boost."

Spaniard Jimenez, who also won the BMW International Open in Munich last season, is an expert of winning Asian titles. Last year, he won tournaments in Thailand, Hong Kong and China en route to his best ever season as a professional. His title defence is expected to come under threat from Els, last year's European Tour Order of Merit winner.

In 2004, Els, known as the "Big Easy", won five tournaments worldwide and could have easily added a few more, especially at the Majors where he finished second in the US Masters and British Open.

Marco Kaussler, Tournament Director of the BMW Asian Open, said: "We are very proud to welcome so many golf superstars to the BMW Asian Open. With these world-class international players, we are confident that it will be the best BMW Asian Open so far. The excellent field will help attract even larger crowds to Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club in April."

Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand is expected to spearhead the region's challenge in Shanghai.

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