The father of Yani Tseng (曾雅妮), one of the world’s top-ranking golfers, said yesterday his daughter was eager to obtain sponsorship from local companies.
Tseng Mao-hsin (曾茂炘) made the remarks while confirming that China’s Huabin Group had offered to sign a long-term sponsorship contract with his daughter, who vaulted into second place in the women’s world golf rankings after she won the Kraft Nabisco Championship earlier this month.
The Chinese-language China Times reported yesterday that the Huabin Group intends to sign a five-year sponsorship contract with the 21-year-old Taiwanese golfer worth US$25 million.
Responding to the report, Tseng said that as a Taiwanese citizen, his daughter would prefer to collaborate with Taiwanese business groups, but regrettably none had expressed any interest to date.
Regarding the Huabin offer, Tseng Mao-hsin said the two sides were still discussing the details of the contract.
“We are not sure whether a sponsorship contract will eventually be signed, as we have not yet come to terms on certain details,” he said.
Tseng Mao-hsin said Huabin Group’s offer was far from attractive because the contract would not cover Yani’s travel costs to participate in LPGA tournaments.
“As a matter of fact, LPGA tours comprise the largest chunk of Yani’s annual expenses ... therefore, the Huabin offer is less than attractive in real terms,” he said.
Another aspect that has to be considered is Huabin’s demand that Yani terminate all other contracts with her existing sponsors from golf clubs, sunglasses, sportswear and other sports gear companies once she signs a deal, her father said.
Aside from Huabin, he said, several brokerage agencies are also negotiating sponsorship contracts with his daughter.
Yani Tseng is scheduled to return to Taiwan next Sunday, when various sponsorship contract matters will be discussed, he said.
Aside from soaring in the world rankings, Yani catapulted to the top of other major lists by winning the April 4 Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, California, the first major tournament of the season.
Her US$300,000 first prize made her the leading prize-money winner on the LPGA Tour after the first four events of the year.
The Huabin Group was founded by Yen Bin (嚴彬), a Thai-Chinese businessman.
Yen currently ranks 10th on the Hurun Rich List, an annual list of the 100 wealthiest people in China.
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