The Asian Professional Golfers' Association was last night officially welcomed into the world golfing fold.
In a significant development for the professional game in the region, the Asian PGA's Omega Tour was confirmed as an associate member of the PGA Tours International Federation.
'This is an historic day for Asian sport,' said Seamus O'Brien, chairman of Asian PGA Tour Ltd. 'We have been in existence for less than four years and for us to be included as part of this new global body is an amazing achievement,' added O'Brien, the mastermind behind the formation of the Asian PGA in 1994.
Following the announcement at a media conference attended by dozens of international journalists covering the 127th British Open, Ramlan Harun, the Asian PGA's executive director, was equally buoyant.
'This is the greatest moment of my involvement with professional golf. It's a tremendous boost for us all,' said Harun, who posed for pictures alongside representatives from the five original members of the federation - the PGA European Tour, the US PGA Tour, the Southern African PGA Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia and the PGA Tour of Japan.
During his introductory remarks about the forthcoming World Championships, US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem revealed that the Omega Tour's application to join the federation had been accepted.