Scottish No.1 Catriona Matthew enters new territory this week when she joins an elite field of 63 for the inaugural Grand China LPGA Tour at Hainan Island.

The North Berwick golfer has had a month’s break from the LPGA Tour – she did have a third place finish in the Madrid Masters – but returns for the new event that has a strong field headed by world No.2, Annika Sorenstam.

With a $1.8M prize fund, the tournament takes place over three rounds and there is no halfway cut.

Glasgow’s Janice Moodie is the first reserve for the start of an Asian swing on the LPGA circuit. Next week is the Mizuno Classic in Japan.