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Talented teenagers Jason Hak Shun-yat and Steven Lam Tsz-fung could soon be rubbing shoulders with the world's best at the Masters and the British Open after the two prestigious majors announced they will open their doors to the top Asian amateur next year.
In a move to promote the game in the region, the Masters, the Royal & Ancient and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) yesterday unveiled the Asian Amateur Championship at Mission Hills in October.
The winner will receive an invitation to play in the 2010 Masters at Augusta and, with the runner-up, will earn an exemption to the final qualifying stage for the 139th Open at St Andrews.
'This is fantastic news for Hong Kong and the rest of Asia,' said Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA) president Rick Siemens.
'We have a number of young amateurs who are ready to go, and playing in the Masters and the Open will give them something to aim for.'
The top two amateurs from each of the 32 APGC member countries on the world amateur rankings, plus the four top-ranked players from hosts China, will automatically qualify for the October 29-November 1 Asian Amateur Championship, to be played on the Jack Nicklaus course at the Shenzhen club.
Lam is the highest ranked Hong Kong player at 668, while Hak (pictured), who made history at the UBS Hong Kong Open last November when he became the youngest player to make the cut at an European Tour event, is next best on 1,690.
The rest of the 120-strong field  will be filled with the next highest ranked players of individual APGC member countries.
Each country can have a maximum of six players.
'Golf continues to grow in this region and what better way to stimulate that growth than to enter into this groundbreaking agreement with the Masters and the R&A,' said APGC chairman Tommy Lee at yesterday's  announcement.
Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said: 'This is an extension of the initiative we announced last April regarding the use of the Masters name, and reputation, to help grow the game of golf around the world. It became obvious fairly quickly the place we could impact the most would be throughout Asia.'
It will be the first time since 1989 that Augusta National has expanded its invitations to amateurs. It now invites the US Amateur champion and runner-up, and winners of the British Amateur, US Mid-Amateur and US Amateur Public Links.
R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: 'The potential to grow the game in Asia-Pacific is very large and the creation of this championship represents a wonderful opportunity to see the region's talent flourish.'
The British Open already provides exemptions to eight top players from Asian tours and events. Dawson said the new Asian Amateur champion and runner-up would get into international qualifying finals, but someday could earn a spot in the Open.
'The growth in America and Britain has plateaued. It now lies in these other territories,' Dawson added. 'Our fields from the majors now are coming from a wide range of countries. I believe it's wise for majors to reinvest in these countries.'
HKGA chief executive Iain Valentine said the move would be a major boost for amateur golf. 'A spot in the majors is every golfer's dream. The fact that our youngsters can aim for this is just incredible,' he said.
While the inaugural tournament will be played at Mission Hills, it will move every year. 'Next year we will play in Japan,' Lee said. 'Our aim is to circulate this event, although it will occasionally return to Mission Hills.'



Asia amateurs to compete for Masters slot