Asia is the future, say world stars

A host of international stars have predicted a bright future for Asia, saying lucrative events will continue to emerge and attract top names and ultimately create a line of world-beaters from the region.

South Africa's world number six Ernie Els, who has played regularly in the region, lauded the Asian Tour where he is competing in the prestigious Johnnie Walker Classic which started on Thursday at Blue Canyon Country Club.

"They have got a great tour on their own, the Asian Tour. I've played some events on the Asian Tour. They play good golf courses and they have a solid tour," said 'The Big Easy'.

He believes that part of the continued success of golf in Asia has been a result of the co-sanction programme with the European Tour, which he says provides the region's best players with a different challenge.

"Well, I think what The European Tour has done has really helped the Asian Tour, to co-sanction events, to have the Asian players play against stronger fields, and I think the Asian players have really caught up really well. The standard of play has been lifted through The European Tour, and subsequently, you have a lot better Asian players," he said.

"I mean, already last year at the HSBC Champions, you know, one of the Asian Tour players (Yang Yong-eun), won. Yang played wonderful and beat the world's best. So that's an indication of where it's going. So it's just a matter of time before they really start breaking through."

His compatriot Retief Goosen, who has won three times in Asia, believes the economic power of the region will be the driving force for the future. "I feel that the way the economy is going over here, and especially in China and those places, I think we're going to see more and more events pop up in this part of the world," said the world number eight.

"I like playing over here. I enjoy the people, I enjoy the golf courses, so it's always an area that I enjoy coming to, and I feel that it won't be long before we're going to play quite a few more events in this part of the world," added Goosen.

Australian Adam Scott, who at world number four is the highest ranked player in this week's Johnnie Walker Classic, was another who has been in awe at the growth of golf in Asia.

"We have seen the Asian Tour grow quite a lot, I have. Certainly the Johnnie Walker has been a big event for 17 years now in Asia. The growth of the (Barclays) Singapore Open in the last few years and I hear big things for the future at the end of this year and beyond for that event.

"I think with that, with more money and time and effort being put into the Asian Tour, I think everything will snowball. The courses will get better, the facilities will get better and players will get better. Certainly if it's done the right way, Asia golfers are going to become better golfers, and you know, champions," said Scott.

March 1, 2007

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