Taipei, April 13 (IANS): The Mercuries Taiwan Masters golf tournament will celebrate its 30th anniversary later this year by increasing its prize fund to an all-time high of $800,000, officials announced on Wednesday.

The long-running Asian Tour event, which is backed by the Mercuries Group, will reinforce its stature as the leading men’s professional golf tournament in Chinese Taipei when it returns to the Taiwan Golf and Country Club’s Tamsui course from September 29 to October 2.

Over the past two years, the event offered $650,000 to Asia’s leading stars and Foundation for Taiwan Masters Golf Tournament Chairman George Wong believes the significant jump in prize money will ensure the event continues to drive the development of the game in Chinese Taipei.

“We are very much looking forward to celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters from September 29 to October 2, 2016. We have enjoyed three decades of glorious golf at the Tamsui course and welcomed worthy champions along the way.

“The Mercuries Group remains fully committed in promoting professional golf in Chinese Taipei and across Asia and I believe the record prize fund of US$800,000 at this year’s milestone event will ensure another great tournament for fans and television viewers,” said Wong in an Asian Tour release.

Last year, Malaysia’s Danny Chia triumphed at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters for his second Asian Tour victory. He joined an illustrious list of champions at the event which was inaugurated in 1987 and modelled after the Masters Tournament in the United States.

Past winners of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters include local heroes T.C. Chen, Hsieh Min-nan, Lin Keng-chi, Lin Wen-tang and Lu Wei-chih, Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant, India’s Gaurav Ghei, Sweden’s Daniel Chopra and Scott Hend of Australia.