Syndicated Thumbnail Navigation player featuring a selection of clips taken from Golf Bug TV. For use on the Golf Today website. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1175881076http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=495713462 RELATED STORIES 2007 Asian Tour schedule and results 15 Asian Tour members in World Top 200 "We're not in conflict with the PGA Tour," says O'Grady, as world's best head for Memorial The future is Asia, says Jack Nicklaus Asian Tour enters "Golden Era" in 2007 ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Jeev re-enters world top 50 Super Singh claims Barclays Jeev can overhaul Brown for OoM Sergio Garcia is new world no. 2 Garcia takes HSBC in a playoff Asian Tour releases 2009 schedule Report predicts 30% China golf growth GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Singh holds off major champions to win Stanford wins Lorena Ochoa Invitational Singh re-enters the World Top 50 Ballesteros likely to leave intensive care PGA Tour releases 2009 schedule

Asian Tour chief denies Asia-Europe agreement

Asian golf chiefs have revealed their surprise at European Tour Executive Director George O'Grady's claim that he is in "the final stages of refining" the idea of amalgamating with other tours.

"We have not been informed or approached by the European Tour on its proposed idea," said Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han. "The Asian Tour has an existing co-sanction program with the European Tour. If new proposals are put forward to the Asian Tour, it will be evaluated based on its benefit to the Asian Tour.

"As a member of the Federation of International PGA Tours, the Asian Tour will continue to work closely with other tours to promote the growth of golf throughout the world," he added. "As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour appreciate the integrity of the other international tours in discussing with us new playing opportunities that may arise in Asia.

"We are fully focused on initiatives to strengthen the Asian Tour where the goal is to create greater playing opportunities for our members," he said. "We have enjoyed steady growth over the last few years and our forecast is that the Asian Tour will continue to grow in line with the strengthening of the economy in Asia."

O'Grady spoke at the European Tour's headquarters at Wentworth Sunday about even closer ties with other circuits to counter the strength of the PGA Tour, which this season is offering more than a $10 million bonus to the player winning its new FedEx Cup series.

The European Tour is considering a change of name as it looks to forge even closer ties with the rest of the world in battling the strength of the American circuit, he said Sunday.

Europe's players already find themselves traveling to Australasia, Asia and the Middle East, but many of the tournaments at home and abroad now take place with weaker fields because of conflicting events in the United States.

"The idea of amalgamating with other tours to put on a really attractive schedule by whatever name we call it is one that we are in the final stages of refining," he explained. "Certainly it won't be a world tour - that's far too grand for me to come up with.

"We're the European Tour and we're working with all our partners to make, I would say, a hugely strong alternative to the PGA Tour," he explained. "We will be administering it and there might be a name change, yes."

The need to act has been hastened by the fact that the World Golf Championship events are not global. The three tournaments are all in the United States for the foreseeable future, and the World Cup - set to be played in China for the next 10 years - is no longer under the WGC banner.

May 28, 2007