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Asian Tour and Faldo Series Asia join forces

The Asian Tour has expanded its involvement with golf development in the region by joining forces with the Faldo Series Asia, an innovative programme launched by golf legend Nick Faldo.

Under this groundbreaking agreement, which sees the Asian Tour appointed as a sanctioning partner, two starts per year at Asian Tour events will be made available for Faldo Series Asia players, including one at the Volvo Masters of Asia. Two scholarships will also be offered to Faldo Series Asia players in the Asian Tour Qualifying School, Stage One.

The announcement of the tie-up serves as a timely incentive in the lead up to the Faldo Series Asia grand final at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China, from February 3-5. Over 60 leading amateur golfers from across the region, boys and girls aged 12 to 21, will compete over 54 holes on the Faldo course as well as spend time with Faldo himself.

The leading boy from the grand final will earn the invitation to play in the Volvo Masters of Asia, the season-ending event on the Asian Tour which is exclusive to the top-60 players from the UBS Order of Merit. He will also earn one of the starts in the Qualifying School. The recipient of the second exemptions will be determined by Nick Faldo.

Supported by Mission Hills, The R&A and UBS, the Faldo Series Asia is a cutting edge programme aimed at identifying and nurturing talented amateurs in the hope that they become the next generation of leading Tour professionals. Launched in January 2006 and part of The Faldo Trust for Tomorrow’s Champions (Asia), the Faldo Series Asia also serves to create access to the game for younger children.

Faldo, England's most famous golfing export with six Major titles, said the association with the Asian Tour was a massive step forward for his programme, as well as for Asia's budding stars.

"Our partnership with the Asian Tour is a massive boost for the Faldo Series Asia," said Faldo today. "One of the main aims of our programme is to provide a bridge for top amateurs into the professional arena and I am confident that the Asian Tour's support will assist us greatly.

"This new partnership will create wonderful opportunities for leading Asian amateurs to experience competition at the highest level on the Asian Tour and also earn the opportunity of competing in the Qualifying School.

"I truly believe that our association with the Asian Tour will greatly benefit golf in the region."

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han was delighted with the groundbreaking agreement, saying that it will provide an exciting platform for rising stars to showcase their talents.

Furthermore, the Tour's involvement will also complement its Order of Merit sponsor, UBS, who are also a major partner of the Faldo Series Asia.

Han commented: "The Faldo Series has proven to be a successful breeding ground for future stars of the game. We have already witnessed the emergence of talented young players in the form of Nick Dougherty and Yasin Ali, who have established themselves on the European Tour and Asian Tour respectively.

"Following the initiation of the Faldo Series Asia, the Asian Tour is truly optimistic that this programme will serve as a catalyst for top amateur golfers to become world-class professional players.

"Asia's leading amateurs do not need to go far to look for inspiration as Nick Faldo is one of the all-time legends in the game. We are delighted to support the Faldo Series Asia and I am optimistic that our shared ambition to discover new stars of the game will be realized."

In a further development for the Faldo Series Asia, the Ladies Asian Golf Tour has offered a start at the 2007 DLF Women’s Indian Open (DLF Golf & Country Club, New Delhi, March 14-16) to the leading girl from the Faldo Series Asia grand final.

The Faldo Series Asia

Nick Faldo launched the Faldo Series Asia in January 2006 to bring opportunities to young people in Asia through golf and to help identify and nurture the region’s next generation of champions.

The Faldo Series Asia features an annual schedule of Faldo Series championships in different territories across the region. Up to 70 players qualify for the Faldo Series Asia grand final, hosted by the six-time Major champion on the Faldo course at Mission Hills Golf Club in China.

Combining experience with education, Faldo Series Asia tournaments give talented young golfers, male and female aged 11 to 21, the chance to benefit from top-level competition under strict tournament conditions and receive expert advice from guest speakers on golf related topics. Simultaneously younger children gain access to golf at the tournaments through a programme of grass-roots activities and the chance to watch the competitors in action.

Part of The Faldo Trust for Tomorrow’s Champions (Asia) Limited, the Faldo Series Asia is underwritten by Faldo and supported by Mission Hills, The R&A and UBS. It is sanctioned by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) and the Asian Tour.

February 1, 2007