Asian Tour Chairman condemns proposed regional 'Super Series'

In a statement on its website on Saturday, the Australian body said a six-leg series would commence in April, including three events in China, two in Australia and one in Korea. It said there would be a 'full-scale' launch in 2010.

The statement said that the China Golf Association, the Japan Golf Tour, the PGA of Australia, Korea Golf Association and the Korea PGA were all involved.

Conspicuous by their absence was the Asian Tour, the main sanctioning body for professional golf in the region, which has consistently refused to endorse such a series or a 'OneAsia' Tour.

Responding to the revelations, Asian Tour executive chairman Han today issued a strongly-worded statement.

Han said: "The Asian Tour strongly condemns the actions of PGA of Australia in its announcement on January 23, 2009 of a new professional golf series that it plans to stage in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The Asian Tour is shocked and disapproves of this desperate attempt by the PGA of Australia to revive its flagging domestic circuit, through its proposed creation of a series by listing events which are already part of the Asian Tour schedule.

"The Australians have simply renamed the OneAsia concept and are making a weak attempt to build on their few remaining events by including existing events on the Asian Tour. They have not brought any new sponsor or events to the table in this initiative. This new series has also not been endorsed by the International Federation of PGA Tours.

"Dates for three of the events that it announced on its purported six-event schedule – the Volvo China Open, Midea China Classic and Pine Valley Beijing Open – have agreements in place with the Asian Tour. All three events have been part of the Asian Tour for several years.

"The PGA of Australia has violated the protocols which govern the International Federation of PGA Tours, of which the Asian Tour, PGA of Australia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) are members. Amongst others, the members are to promote close co-operation to develop golf in their respective regions.

"The JGTO has also made this following statement: 'Our position has been very clear from the start. We will never enter into any new initiative in the region unless a proper platform and structure is put in place and this would require the input and involvement of the Asian Tour'.

"The Asian Tour is willing to work with the PGA Tour of Australia to assist its ailing golf tour but we are extremely disappointed with the manner in which the PGA of Australia continues to act. Its actions are against the spirit of the game and the ideals of the International Federation of PGA Tours."

The initial schedule released by the PGA of Australia said the series 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).

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

January 25, 2009