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Leading golf bodies announce Asia-Pacific Super Series in China, Australia and Korea

The region's professional golfing landscape is about to change following the announcement of the launch of an Asia- Pacific 'Super Series'.

A six-leg series in 2009 will include three events in China, two in Australia and one in Korea. There will then be a 'full-scale' launch in 2010.

A statement released today read: "Pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2007 by the China Golf Association, the Japan Golf Tour, the PGA of Australia, Korea Golf Association and the Korea PGA, the parties are delighted to announce the launch of a super series of elite tournaments across the region, starting in 2009 with a full scale launch scheduled for 2010.

"Each of the founding parties will in 2009 bring together the most significant events conducted in each of their respective countries to launch a super series of elite tournaments across Asia-Pacific, combining the best golfers from across the region."

The initial schedule will tee-off with the Volvo China Open (April 16-19) and be followed by the Pine Valley Beijing Open (May 7-10), Korea Open (date TBA), Midea China Classic (October 15-18), Australian Open (December 3-6) and Australian PGA Championship (December 10-13).

Further tournament announcements and details regarding the super series will be made in the coming weeks and months, said the statement.

"This series of elite Asia-Pacific tournaments will not only assist in further internationalising many of the elite tournaments in the region, and strengthening the player fields, but also provide access for the best players in the region to the best tournaments in the region," added the statement.

Zhang Xiaoning, executive vice president, China Golf Association, said: "This series of elite tournaments has been planned and prepared for a very long period of time, and we are delighted that it's finally in place now.

"We hope that this series of events could provide a true platform for the communication and organisation for all the Asian-Pacific national golf bodies, thus to build a unified Asian Pacific golf organisation which truly represents the rights and benefits for all of the national golf bodies and their golfers in this region.

"This will definitely provide more and better playing opportunities for all the professional golfers in our region."

Seoung Ghee-wook, vice chairman of the Korea PGA, said: "Today, we are facing the turning point in the history of golf. Six hundred years ago, golf was initiated from Scotland. Since then golf has developed in various ways. Tournament golf is now having glory days. However, Tours had been developed in Asia-Pacific region independently in each country.

"As it is, the Asia-Pacific super series will be of assistance to gather countries in this region together and, furthermore, it will aid to develop a higher level of tournament in this region. In fact, players in this region will develop their skills and experience various sponsorships as they participate in the tournaments.

"When it comes to fans, they will experience diverse of high quality of tournaments. Finally, the media and other companies in this industry will face newly challenging journeys."

DW Kim, executive director of the Korea Golf Association, added: "Welcome to the launching of the Asia-Pacific Super Series. It is the result of founding parties' efforts to promote world level players and tournaments into a consolidated Asia-Pacific regional platform.

"I strongly believe more elite tournaments will be eager to join hereafter and also looking forward to joining of APGC member countries."

The Asian Tour, the main sanctioning body for professional golf in the region, has consistently refused to endorse such a series or a 'OneAsia' Tour.

The Volvo China Open, the Pine Valley Beijing Open, the Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open and the Midea China Classic are all listed on the 2009 Asian Tour schedule.

The Volvo China Open is listed as a co-sanction between the Asian Tour and the European Tour while the Pine Valley event is marked as a co-sanction between the Asian Tour and the Japan Tour.

Max Garske, the PGA of Australia's chief executive, said: "The Asia-Pacific region needs to collectively be the master of the destiny of professional tournament golf in this region.

"The formation of a consolidated Asia-Pacific tournament series is the first exciting stage of this process. This will go a long way to developing a strong pathway for players of this region."

January 24, 2009