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Asian Tour says players will boycott new series
March 27, 2009, Friday
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ASIAN Tour players will boycott the new OneAsia circuit tournaments, tour chief Kyi Hla Han said yesterday, raising the stakes in the furious row over the future of professional golf in the region.
Han described the new tour, which aims to build an elite circuit in the Asia-Pacific to rival the dominant US and European tours, as an Australian "invasion" of Asia and said his players would have nothing to do with it.
"Our players, including our Australian members, are united and will not compete in OneAsia events," the Asian Tour's executive chairman said. "We have had player meetings as recently as Tuesday this week and they are unanimous in agreeing not to play in OneAsia events.
"The players know that we will continue to grow and will always act in their best interest. They would not give that up for a fledging tour who is selectively inviting players without being able to provide even the most fundamental event details."
The first of the six OneAsia tournaments is next month's China Open in Beijing.
The Asian Tour was "disappointed" at the China Golf Association's confirmation last week that the US$2.2 million event would be switching to OneAsia after 13 years association with the established circuit, Han said.
Comments from CGA chief Zhang Xiaoning that the Asian Tour had not provided "enough benefits" for Chinese players were "not accurate" and the tour still wanted "a healthy long-term relationship" with the governing body of Chinese golf, he said.
"Our relationship with the CGA has always been amicable until the PGA of Australia approached them to form OneAsia," he said.
Despite the backing of Korea and China ?? Zhang said in future all events in China would be OneAsia sanctioned ?? Han clearly sees the Australian PGA as the driving force behind the OneAsia tour and renewed his attack on it.
"Australia has conducted itself poorly in Asia where it has violated protocols and acted unethically by not recognizing the Asian Tour as the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia," he said. "Australia has essentially invaded Asia, cannibalized existing Asian Tour events and called them their own." Asked if there was a possibility of compromise, Han answered "No."
(Agencies)
Han described the new tour, which aims to build an elite circuit in the Asia-Pacific to rival the dominant US and European tours, as an Australian "invasion" of Asia and said his players would have nothing to do with it.
"Our players, including our Australian members, are united and will not compete in OneAsia events," the Asian Tour's executive chairman said. "We have had player meetings as recently as Tuesday this week and they are unanimous in agreeing not to play in OneAsia events.
"The players know that we will continue to grow and will always act in their best interest. They would not give that up for a fledging tour who is selectively inviting players without being able to provide even the most fundamental event details."
The first of the six OneAsia tournaments is next month's China Open in Beijing.
The Asian Tour was "disappointed" at the China Golf Association's confirmation last week that the US$2.2 million event would be switching to OneAsia after 13 years association with the established circuit, Han said.
Comments from CGA chief Zhang Xiaoning that the Asian Tour had not provided "enough benefits" for Chinese players were "not accurate" and the tour still wanted "a healthy long-term relationship" with the governing body of Chinese golf, he said.
"Our relationship with the CGA has always been amicable until the PGA of Australia approached them to form OneAsia," he said.
Despite the backing of Korea and China ?? Zhang said in future all events in China would be OneAsia sanctioned ?? Han clearly sees the Australian PGA as the driving force behind the OneAsia tour and renewed his attack on it.
"Australia has conducted itself poorly in Asia where it has violated protocols and acted unethically by not recognizing the Asian Tour as the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia," he said. "Australia has essentially invaded Asia, cannibalized existing Asian Tour events and called them their own." Asked if there was a possibility of compromise, Han answered "No."
(Agencies)
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