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Asian Tour chairman rejects 'OneAsia' Tour

The PGA of Australia released a statement Friday saying it had agreed with the Japan Golf Tour Organization, Korean Golf Association and China Golf Association to create a tour, previously referred to as "OneAsia".

Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said his continental regulator, a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours, was "not endorsing or participating" in OneAsia.

Han said his organization, formed in 2004 as a players association, was already working co-operatively with Japan, South Korea and China, with eight of its 2008 tournaments being co-sanctioned by those national bodies.

"Plans to launch this new Asia-Pacific golf tour are being driven aggressively by the PGA of Australia, whose tour is diminishing, and the Asian Tour believes it does not serve the best interests and growth of professional golf in Asia," Han said.

"Our membership have also met on several occasions over the past few months to deliberate on this proposal for an Asia-Pacific golf tour and have unanimously provided their backing for the Asian Tour to distance ourselves from this initiative."

In its statement Friday, the PGA of Australia said the new tour would include the existing top tournaments from the participating countries and was intended to begin next January, while discussions continue with "several other golf bodies in the region to ascertain their role within OneAsia".

The OneAsia participants had appointed an interim board to oversee the creation of the new tour.

The existing Asian Tour does not involve the Japanese and Australian tours, which represent a significant number of the region's best players and established sponsor and fan bases.

"There is currently no organization which can fully and collectively represent the rights and benefits of national golf bodies and professional golfers in the Asia-Pacific region," the PGA of Australia statement said.

PGA of Australia tour commissioner Ben Sellenger was not available for comment Friday.

March 15, 2008