The new season will begin on April 2 with the KEB Invitational Championship in Guangzhou, China, and end with the SBS Hana Tour Championship, where the total prize money is W300 million (US$1=W1,359), in the first week of November. A total of 18 championships will be held with a total of W8 billion of prize money. In the 2008 season, there were 19 championships with total prize money of W8.3 billion.

The Kolon Hana Bank Korea Open will be the most lucrative match with total prize money at W1 billion, and the Shinhan Donghae Open will have W700 million. The GS Caltex Maekyung Open, SK Telecom Open and the SBS Samsung Benest Open will each have W600 million.

The KPGA also plans to host the Ballantine's Championship in the Pinx Golf Course in Jeju Island with the Professional Golfers Association Europe (EPGA) for four days from April 23. The championship has W3.6 billion of prize money.

(englishnews@chosun.com )