Asian Tour hails return to China as ‘game changer’ as OneAsia falls out of favour on the mainland
Up to four new events will be added in 2017 with prize purses of US$300,000-US$500,000, with further expansion after signing strategic partnership with China Golf Association
The Asian Tour has hailed their return to China for the first time since 2008 as a “game changer” with up to four new events planned for this year, signalling the further demise of the breakaway OneAsia circuit which had seen the two sides go their separate ways some eight years ago.
Asia’s sanctioning body previously co-sanctioned and staged tournaments with the China Golf Association (CGA) from 1995 until 2008 before the OneAsia circuit began in 2009 as a joint venture between the PGA Tour of Australasia, the CGA, the Korean Golf Association and the Korean PGA.
But with the 2017 OneAsia schedule only listing three confirmed events this year, all of which are co-sanctioned, and one unconfirmed tournament in China, the Asian Tour has signed a strategic partnership with the CGA with the new events offering prize purses of US$300,000-US$500,000.
“We are honoured to forge a strategic partnership with the CGA which is truly a significant development for professional golf in Asia,” said Asian Tour chief executive officer Josh Burack.
“The CGA has been fantastic in sharing their vision to grow the game in China which is aligned to our own mission to do the same in China and across Asia as a whole.