Asian tour rejects plans for rival circuit

The Asian Tour has dismissed plans from four of the biggest golf associations in the Asia-Pacific region to create a rival tour.

The Australian PGA said in a statement that they, the Japanese Golf Tour Organisation, the Chinese Golf Association and the Korean Golf Association have agreed to form a new circuit that is currently being referred to as the OneAsia Tour.

It read: “There is currently no organisation which can fully and collectively represent the rights and benefits of national golf bodies and professional golfers in the Asia-Pacific region.

“In an effort to better promote the game of golf and take the game to a higher level in the Asia-Pacific Region, each of the Founding Tours believe it is necessary to found a single regional organisation that can truly represent the common rights and benefits of relevant local golf bodies and their members.”

The associations have stated their intention to launch the new tour in January 2009 but Kyi Hla Han, executive chairman of the Asian Tour, said in a statement they would oppose any plans to implement the proposal.

“As a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours, the Asian Tour is the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia and has governed with great success the interests and growth of professional golf in the Asian region,” said Han.

“Elite and major golf tournaments already form the burgeoning Asian Tour Schedule and the Asian Tour firmly believe that we are on the correct pathway in developing, promoting and growing professional golf in Asia under the existing Tour structure.

“Plans to launch this new Asia-Pacific golf tour are being driven aggressively by the PGA of Australia, whose Tour is diminishing, and the Asian Tour believes it does not serve the best interests and growth of professional golf in Asia.

“Our membership have also met on several occasions over the past few months to deliberate on this proposal for an Asia-Pacific golf tour and have unanimously provided their backing for the Asian Tour to distance ourselves from this initiative.”

The Asian Tour currently has 32 tournaments held in 17 different countries on its 2008 schedule.