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Asia - Europe relations "back on track"

Asian Tour players will almost certainly take part in the European Tour's controversial new US$2.5mil event in India next year after the two sides settled their differences.

Relations between the tours turned sour this year following the announcement in April of the inaugural Indian Asian Tour players will almost certainly take part in the European Tour's controversial new 2.5-million-dollar event in India next year after the two sides settled their differences.

Relations between the tours turned sour this year following the announcement in April of the inaugural Indian Masters in 2008.

It was condemned by the Asian Tour as "unethical" as the European Tour organised the country's richest ever event without their involvement. Leading Indian golfers threatened a boycott.

But Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han reports that "relations are back on track."

"It looks like we'll come to an agreement pretty soon, before the end of the year," he said.

"India is now looking very good for Asian Tour players."

After months of strained ties, Kyi Hla said he and the European Tour's George O'Grady finally talked at the golf World Cup at Mission Hills in China late last month.

"A resolution is in sight. It was all about recognition of our tour," he said, but added that the European side had still not fully explained why they announced the tournament without consulting Asia.

The Asian Tour, which has supported Indian events and provided a platform for India's emerging crop of top players, including Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa, was unhappy at what it saw as Europe encroaching on its marketplace.

The row has been sharpened by the fact that golf is the fastest growing sport in India and is today believed to be second only to cricket in popularity. This makes the country- along with China - the greatest potential boom market for golf over the next decade.

The Indian Masters will take place from February 7-10 at the Delhi Golf Club, and a strong field is expected. The event is organised by the company behind the Dubai Desert Classic and "Golf in Dubai" ambassadors such as Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, and Jeev Milkha Singh would likely take part.

Resolution of the dispute over the Indian Masters nevertheless still leaves a bone of contention between the Asian and European Tours concerning the 2008 Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. Plans for this tournament were also announced by the European Tour earlier tbis year without consultating the Asian Tour.

December 11, 2007