Asian Tour: second International Series event slated for Slaley Hall in UK, spot at US$25 million tournament up for grabs
- Tournament moved to north of England from June 2-5 to accommodate LIV Golf Invitational at Centurion Club
- Exemptions up for grabs for Tour players to earn spots in Greg Norman’s first lucrative event
The second event in the Asian Tour’s International Series will now take place at Slaley Hall Hotel Spa & Golf Resort in the north of England June, after it was forced to move by the LIV Golf Invitational.
But, the rescheduling means that tour players and those who compete at the event from June 2 to 5 will have a chance to earn a spot at Greg Norman’s inaugural US$25 million tournament a week later at Centurion Club outside London.
Players competing in the US$2 million International Series, the ninth event on the Tour’s schedule and its groundbreaking move into the UK, will be able to earn exemptions for what is likely to be the most lucrative event of their careers.
Officials said that exemptions for the LIV tournament would be granted to: the top-three players from the cumulative International Series rankings, through Thailand and England, the top-two finishers in the International Series England not otherwise exempt, the top player on the Asian Tour Order of Merit at the time, and the top two players from the 2020-21 final Order of Merit will also gain berths.
“This is a giant step forward for the Asian Tour and we are fortunate that the organisers have been able to accommodate the change in plans,” Cho Minn Thant, the tour’s commissioner and CEO, said. “The new date allows us to provide even greater rewards for the competitors. They are not only playing for the Asian Tour Order of Merit, but they will now also able to play their way into a series of ultra-lucrative events throughout the year.”
Slaley Hall is located in the Northumberland countryside and is a short drive from Newcastle. Often described as the “Augusta of the North” the club boasts two courses: The Hunting and The Priestman.
American Sihwan Kim won the International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club and currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit heading into next week’s Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup – one of two back-to-back events being jointly sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.