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Asian Tour extends TV coverage 'Down Under'

The Asian Tour will broaden its television reach in Australia after signing an agreement with Fox Sports to air all Asian Tour live tournaments, highlights and magazine shows.

Fox Sports, Australia’s leading sports broadcaster, has signed an agreement to begin coverage of the Asian Tour for the remainder of the 2009 season and through the new 2010 season.

The tie-up will prove to be an ideal partnership as the Asian Tour has provided the launch pad for Australia’s up-and-coming stars to harness their games and gain top-level exposure on the international stage.

Australian players represent one of the largest membership base on the Asian Tour where a total of 26 Australian players compete across the region.

This season, Darren Beck won his maiden Asian Tour title at the Brunei Open while Rick Kulacz claimed his second career victory at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in Malaysia.

Other leading Australians who have won on the Asian Tour include two-time winner David Gleeson and Scott Hend, who claimed victory at the Indonesia President Invitational last year and is currently fourth on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

Jarrod Lyle and Andrew Buckle also found success on the Asian Tour before playing their way onto the US PGA Tour in recent years as Australian players have opted to compete on the Asian Tour in view of limited opportunities at home.

The partnership between the Asian Tour and Fox Sports is a strong reflection of the continuous growing appeal of the Asian Tour in all corners of the globe.

Earlier this year, the Asian Tour concluded broadcast agreements with Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and VIASAT in Scandinavia, two of the largest golf broadcasters across Europe.

Eric Lynge, Senior Director, TV and Commercial Affairs, Asian Tour, said: “There is an abundance of talent on the Asian Tour and our Australian membership represents a big group of rising stars in world golf.

“Our association with Fox Sports will showcase Australia’s emerging players on their home soil and also the best of Asian golf to Australian golf fans. The Asian Tour prides ourselves in delivering world-class and elite tournaments for our diversified membership which consists of nearly 30 different nationalities.”

November 26, 2009