Hong Kong Open's future is safe, says Asian Tour
Chief executive promises to prevent event losing its lustre to high-stakes Turkish Open, saying the tournament will keep growing
The Asian Tour promised to safeguard the long-term health of the troubled Hong Kong Open yesterday after the European Tour sacrificed the "iconic" tournament and removed it from the climactic end-of-season spotlight.
Having struggled to find a sponsor and relying on a government handout to clinch the return of world number one and defending champion Rory McIlroy, the Hong Kong Open has been replaced by the new US$7 million Turkish Open as the penultimate event on the European Tour's Race To Dubai.
The Hong Kong Open is now in limbo and will likely be an opening event next year rather than the high-stakes, make-or-break, last-chance saloon for players trying to qualify for the lucrative World Tour Championship.
But the Asian Tour, which co-sanctions the event with the European Tour along with the Hong Kong Golf Association, which owns the Open, said it would not allow the tournament to lose any more lustre.
"We have always considered the Hong Kong Open one of our iconic events in the region and we want it to continue to grow. It's in our interests that it is healthy and sustainable," Asian Tour chief executive Mike Kerr said yesterday.
"We will talk to all the partners and make sure we ensure the long-term health of the Hong Kong Open. The worst thing would be to go from year to year with no clear understanding as to where we are going.
"From an Asian Tour perspective I'm very confident the HK Open will continue as one of premier events in our season. I have every confidence the Hong Kong Open will not only continue in its current form but will grow. It is very important for us," said former Hong Kong resident Kerr.