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About the Asian Tour Qualitfying School

The Asian Tour, as the official sanctioning body for professional golf in the region, offers playing opportunities for its members and players through the staging of events that form the Asian Tour Schedule.

In 2008, the Asian Tour will offer a record US$39 million in total prize money through the playing of an unprecedented 30 tournaments in Asia. This is a 300% growth in terms of prize money growth compared to the Asian Tour's inaugural season as a new members' organisation in 2004.

The Asian Tour is regarded as the fastest growing Tour in the world and ranks third behind the PGA Tour and European Tour in terms of offering playing opportunities and prize funds on offer to the players.

The first step that players need to take to play on the Asian Tour is through the Qualifying School.

Q-SCHOOL SUCCESS STORIES

Over the years, the Asian Tour Qualifying School has proven to be the launch pad for the careers of many professional golfers, both Asian and international players.

Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee is a prime example. As a graduate from the Qualifying School in 1999, Thongchai has become a household name within the golfing fraternity in Asia and worldwide where he has won two Order of Merit titles and over US$2 million in prize money, which ranks him number one on the career money list.

Other players who have used the Qualifying School road to stardom in recent times include Korea's Charlie Wi, American Ted Purdy, Australians Andrew Buckle and Jarrod Lyle, India's Shiv Kapur, Scotsman Simon Yates, England's Simon Dyson, Filipino Juvic Pagunsan, South African Anton Haig and Malaysia's Ben Leong, the winner of the last two Qualifying Schools.

Yates (pictured), who is based in Thailand, is the most successful international player on the Asian Tour where he has won three titles and over US$1.5 million in career earnings, which places him in the top-10.

Dyson also used the Qualifying School to kickstart his professional career. After earning his card in 2000, he won three titles en route to winning the Order of Merit crown. He is now an established name on the European Tour and has also retained his Asian Tour membership annually.

In 2007, Australian Scott Hend (pictured) proved to be the most successful Asian Tour Qualifying School graduate where he finished in the top-five of the Order of Merit with earnings of over US$200,000.

He went on to win his maiden Asian Tour title in 2008, lifting the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational.

Many players often say that the Qualifying School is one of the hardest tests in golf but once you pass the challenge, the rewards await you on the Asian Tour.

October 2008