Golf's Asian Tour chief quits amid merger talks with European Tour
No reason given for Mike Kerr’s surprise departure at a time of uncertainty for Asian players
Asian Tour chief executive Mike Kerr has resigned, the body revealed on Monday, at a time of high uncertainty with negotiations underway for a merger with the European Tour.
Kerr's position had been rumoured to be in jeopardy since the tour's players held a meeting at the Macau Open in October, where they voiced disquiet about the proposed creation of a mega-tour straddling the two continents and his handling of the merger.
A statement said: “The Asian Tour has announced that its CEO Mike Kerr has left the organisation after three-and-a-half years in the role.”
No reason was given for the departure of the former senior executive at the ESPN STAR Sports TV channel, and the statement did not say whether he would be replaced.
The merger proposal has prompted fears from some players that it would lead to diminished playing opportunities and that they could be squeezed out by the bigger, more powerful European Tour.
