2026/3/17

The biggest breakthrough of the 2026 TPGA Taiwan Tour is the revival of the Taiwan Open by Yeangder Group after a 20-year hiatus. The reopening of this national-level tournament not only brings it back under the Asian Tour schedule but also makes it one of the highest prize purse events on this year’s Taiwan Tour. In addition, TPGA Chairman Chen Jung Hsin will complete his second term this year and will step down at the end of December. Before leaving office, he is making a final push to strengthen the Taiwan Tour schedule. This year, the Taiwan Tour and the ThreeBond Challenge Tour will feature a total of 24 events, with a combined annual prize purse of NT$142.94 million (compared to NT$142.40 million in 2025), setting a new all-time record for total annual prize money on the Taiwan Tour (calculated at an exchange rate of 1:31 USD).

Another highlight is that the Taiwan Tour will host three Asian Tour events and three Asian Development Tour (ADT) events this year, totaling six Asian Tour-sanctioned events. This sets a new record for the most Asian Tour events hosted by a single country in one year and demonstrates the increasing level of international integration of the Taiwan Tour.

Last year marked the first year that the Taiwan Tour was included in the OWGR system. This year, it once again exceeds the organization’s requirements in terms of number of events and total prize money. The annual Taiwan Tour Qualifying School will continue to be open to international players. The top 40 players will earn full playing privileges for the Taiwan Tour (excluding co-sanctioned Asian Tour and ADT events), while players ranked 41 and below will be placed on a priority list based on performance.

This year, the Taiwan Tour together with the ThreeBond Challenge Tour will host a total of 24 events. Although the Taiwan Tour itself will have 15 events, four fewer than last year, the total annual prize purse has increased by NT$500,000, indicating a rise in average prize money per event. The ThreeBond Challenge Tour will maintain nine events, each with a prize purse of NT$1 million.

The most noteworthy event this year is the Yeangder Taiwan Open, revived and title-sponsored by Yeangder Group at the Asian Tour level, with a prize purse of USD 1.2 million (approximately NT$37.2 million).

After hosting the Yeangder TPC Championship on the Asian Tour for 16 years, Yeangder Group is now fully committed to reviving the Yeangder Taiwan Open with a prize purse of USD 1.2 million. The Mercuries Taiwan Masters has also followed suit, increasing its prize purse from USD 1 million last year to USD 1.2 million this year.

In addition, Yeangder Group will continue to host the Ambassador ADT Open and will further add another ADT event, the HCT ADT event, each offering a prize purse of USD 120,000. The group will also co-title sponsor two ThreeBond Challenge Tour events, making it the largest title sponsor of the season.

The Taiwan Glass Taifeng Open will continue as an Asian Tour event for the fourth consecutive year, increasing its prize purse from USD 400,000 to USD 500,000, ensuring that Taiwan continues to host three Asian Tour events.

Furthermore, Ever Glory Construction has joined professional golf sponsorship in Taiwan for the first time this year, entering the Asian Development Tour by title sponsoring the Ever Glory ADT Open, becoming a new driving force in both the Taiwan Tour and Asian Tour.

Today, a pro-am event was held at National Golf Country Club as part of the 2026 Taiwan PGA Tour press conference, bringing together sponsors, host golf courses, and professional players. Nearly 100 professional and amateur participants competed in the event. The press conference was later held at the renowned Taichung restaurant Dinyue Restaurant Co.,Ltd.

TPGA Chairman Chen Jung Hsin expressed his gratitude during the press conference, thanking all corporate sponsors for their continued support over the past five years. Sponsors from northern, central, and southern Taiwan have played a key role in increasing both the number of events and total prize money each year. This year, two additional ADT events have been added, including a three-year title sponsorship agreement with Ever Glory Construction. Yeangder Group will host three ADT events in total, including the Ambassador ADT Open and the newly added HCT ADT event.

Together with three Asian Tour events, a total of six Asian Tour-sanctioned events will be held, setting a new record and providing Taiwanese players with more opportunities to compete internationally.

Dinyue Restaurant Co.,Ltd, the sponsor of the press conference dinner, also announced an increase in prize money for its event from NT$3 million to NT$5 million, as revealed by CEO Wang Ching-jui. Another key partner, Double Oaks Development, also delivered a presentation during the event.

Young players have shown significant progress through years of experience on the Taiwan Tour. Most notably, Lee Chieh-po, a product of the Taiwan Tour, secured the sole qualifying spot for the LIV Golf Tour in 2024 against nearly 100 international competitors, becoming the first Taiwanese player to enter LIV Golf. After competing for a year, he has further improved both his mindset and performance while earning substantial prize money.

Meanwhile, young players Wang Wei-hsuan and Liu Yong-hua, along with senior players Hung Chien-yao and Chan Shih-chang, continue to compete on the Asian Tour this year. Players such as Lee Chieh-po and Chang Wei-lun are also striving to secure their Asian Tour cards.

The rise of these players highlights the long-term support from Taiwanese enterprises for professional men’s golf.

Pan Cheng-tsung and Kevin Yu, both winners on the PGA Tour, also serve as prime examples of Taiwanese players achieving their dreams on the international stage.

In terms of special awards, Chairman Lin Rui-chang of Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd. will continue for the eighth consecutive year to provide bonus prizes for the annual money leaders and top three players on both the Taiwan Tour and the ThreeBond Challenge Tour. For the fifth consecutive year, prize money will be awarded at NT$500,000, NT$300,000, and NT$200,000 respectively, totaling NT$2 million.

Chairman Lin originally provided NT$300,000 bonuses for the money leaders of both tours from 2019 to 2021. Starting in 2022, he increased the prize pool and expanded the number of awardees to include second and third place finishers. The prize distribution was NT$300,000 for first place, NT$200,000 for second, and NT$100,000 for third. In 2023 and 2024, the prizes were further increased to NT$500,000, NT$300,000, and NT$200,000, and this support continues in 2026, intensifying competition among top-ranked players.

The CHAU-SHI Series will consist of eight events this year and will have its own annual money list. The overall money leader will earn an entry into the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and receive a bonus of NT$250,000 sponsored by Chairman Lin Kuo-er of HONLIN CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD, marking his third consecutive year of sponsorship. Chairman Lin noted that this special award aims to motivate players to compete for the money title.

These corporate leaders have consistently supported professional golf in Taiwan, increasing bonus incentives over the years to encourage players to perform at their best and compete for both tournament victories and annual money titles.

The corporate sponsors and golf courses participating in the CHAU-SHI Series this year (in chronological order) include Chang Wah Group, GIANT Heavy Machinery Engineering, Mizuno Taiwan, Dinyue Restaurant Co.,Ltd, Qing Lian Group HDF Engineering, Wealthy Family Golf Team, The Royal Kuan-Hsi Golf Club, and the Chinese Great Merit Association. Among them, Wealthy Family Golf Team, Qing Lian Group, and GIANT Heavy Machinery Engineering are entering their third consecutive year of sponsorship, while the Chinese Great Merit Association and Dinyue Restaurant Co.,Ltd are in their second year.

This year, Taiwan will host three Asian Tour events. The first is the Taiwan Glass Taifeng Open at Taifeng Golf Club, with prize money increased from USD 400,000 to USD 500,000 (approximately NT$15.5 million), scheduled from May 7 to May 10.

The second event is the highly anticipated Yeangder Taiwan Open, offering USD 1.2 million in prize money, scheduled from September 17 to 20 at Linkou Golf Club, marking the return of the Taiwan Open after 20 years.

The third event is the 40th Mercuries Taiwan Masters Invitational, with prize money increased from USD 1 million to USD 1.2 million, scheduled from September 24 to 27 at Taiwan Golf & Country Club.

The TPGA Championship, one of the most historic events, will hold its 59th edition this year, co-organized by TPGA and sponsored for the 11th consecutive year by SANYA Textile Co., Ltd., with a total prize purse of NT$7 million, scheduled from May 14 to May 17 at Taiwan Golf & Country Club.

Since its inception in 1966, the TPGA Championship was historically one of Taiwan’s three major tournaments alongside the Mercuries Taiwan Masters and the Taiwan Open. After the Taiwan Open was discontinued, it was replaced by the Yeangder TPC Championship. With the revival of the Taiwan Open, the prestige of Taiwan’s three major tournaments is restored.

Dinyue Restaurant Co.,Ltd, after title sponsoring a Challenge Tour event in 2024 and upgrading to a Taiwan Tour title sponsor in 2025, will continue its sponsorship this year and increase the prize purse from NT$3 million to NT$5 million.

The ThreeBond Challenge Tour, established in 2015 by CEO Chen Chih-chung, will maintain nine events this year, each with a prize purse of NT$1 million.

The tour was created to provide competitive opportunities for young players who fall outside the top 40 in the Taiwan Tour money ranking. By collaborating with Japan’s ThreeBond, TPGA established this second-tier tour to offer more opportunities and development pathways.

This marks the 12th consecutive year of ThreeBond’s title sponsorship, continuing to serve as a platform for young players to develop their skills and gain experience. The top five players in the annual money ranking will earn Taiwan Tour playing rights for the following year.

Among the nine events of the ThreeBond TPGA Challenge Tour this year, ThreeBond will host two events, Yeangder Group will co-title sponsor two events, and other sponsors including Bai Wei Group Cheng Guan Yuan Driving Range, Advanced International, Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial, Taiwan Cement, and Taiwan Solar Energy will each title sponsor one event. Huawai International joins as a new sponsor.

Each Challenge Tour event consists of two rounds (36 holes). Seven golf courses will co-host events this year, including Bombax, Hsin Yi, Suncity Golf Club, Hsin Feng, Taipei Golf Club, Takangshan, and Sung Po Ling.

Bombax Golf Club in Tainan will participate for the eighth year and continue to host the opening event of the Challenge Tour.

The 2026 Taiwan Tour season will begin from March 26 to 29 at Hsin Yi Golf Club in Kaohsiung with the CHAU-SHI Series – Chang Wah Open, title-sponsored by Chang Wah Group.

TPGA extends special thanks to long-term corporate sponsors, particularly Yeangder Group under Chairman Hsu Yu-rui, for continuously creating international opportunities for Taiwanese players and supporting both professional and amateur development.

Mercuries Group remains one of the strongest supporters of professional golf in Taiwan, having established the prestige of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters over many years. Winning the green jacket remains a proud achievement for local players.

SANYA Textile has also been a key supporter, sponsoring the TPGA Championship for 11 consecutive years since 2016, continuing the legacy of its late founder.

Hsin Yi Golf Club will co-host four events this year, making it the most supportive venue, followed by Hsin Feng Golf Club with three events. Bombax Golf Club, Taiwan Golf & Country Club, and Taipei Golf Club will each co-host two events.

More than 30 additional sponsors continue to support the development of professional golf in Taiwan, with new sponsors also joining the Taiwan Tour and Challenge Tour this year.

Nan Lien International Trading will continue to provide Budweiser Gold beer at pro-am banquets throughout the season.

Tung Hui Watch Co. will continue to sponsor hole-in-one prizes, offering a Bell & Ross watch valued at NT$130,000 for the Taiwan Tour and a SEVENFRIDAY watch valued at NT$55,000 for the Challenge Tour.

Da An Group’s Lishan Guest House will provide a complimentary one-night stay in the Presidential Suite as a hole-in-one prize at every Taiwan Tour event.

This marks the second year that the Taiwan Tour is included in the OWGR system. With more international players joining through Qualifying School, the level of competition continues to rise. Fans can watch the action through online live broadcasts.

Among the 15 Taiwan Tour events, four major tournaments will be broadcast live, covering the final two rounds. Broadcast platforms include TPGA Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo Sports, LINE Golfourit, LINE Today, and the TPGA official website. Other events will be available via recorded broadcasts.