Adjust font size:
    SINGAPORE -- The Asian Tour starts a new season at the Pakistan Open this week, with more tournaments and prize money on offer than ever before for the region's ranks of improving professionals. With the first tee shot at the Karachi Golf Club on Thursday, Asian Tour golfers will embark on the first leg of a 29-event calendar worth a tour-record $26.5 million. The figures represent a dramatic rise from the 18 events worth $9 million of four years ago, a sign the tour has been able to attract more sponsorship and potential hosts as the region's players march up the world rankings. "It's an exciting time for the Asian Tour and I believe we are entering a golden era for golf in the region," Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said. The tour's plan to expand into new markets within the region has led to five events being added to the calendar, with Indonesia holding three, Malaysia one and Cambodia hosting its debut tournament in December. Nine events will be co-hosted with the European Tour and Myanmar's Han believes these will continue to promote both organizations as well as the players. "International cooperation will remain a priority as it creates opportunities for sponsors and players to enjoy the full benefits of partnerships," he said. The first major prize pool will be at the tri-sanctioned $2.44 million Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket in March, with other lucrative events taking place in China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Indonesia ahead of the tour's flagship event in Singapore. The $4 million Singapore Open has been moved from September to November, to start a month containing four events in the region worth $16 million, with the aim of luring the world's leading golfers to Asia after the major tours have ended. Two-times defending champion Adam Scott of Australia and Ernie Els of South Africa have already committed to this year's event and the Asian Tour expects a world class field to descend on the challenging Sentosa Golf Club later this year. India's Jeev Milkha Singh took the order of merit title last year, romping to four victories on three different tours to rocket up the world rankings to an impressive 36th place. Breakthrough seasonHis breakthrough season has been rewarded with exemptions to the four majors and he will become the first Indian to play at the U.S. Masters in April. "My main focus will be on the U.S. Tour," the Chandigarh-born Singh said. "There will be a lot of traveling, but many of the European and Asian events are joint-sanctioned, so that helps." With Singh spending less time in Asia, Thai duo Thongchai Jaidee and Prom Meesawat and India's Shiv Kapur will be among the favorites for the order of merit title. The 22-year-old Prom is perhaps the most promising player to emerge in Asia for some years and the "Big Dolphin" scored his maiden victory at the SK Open in Korea last May. The burly Prom was one of the few Asian players to hold their own in last week's Royal Trophy defeat to Europe, picking up halves against Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke in match play. "I have improved so much since I became professional (in 2004)," he said. "It's very tough on the tour as you have to handle the travelling and the heat. I think I am doing that very well. I am young and have the energy." |
Get up-to-the minute news from CNNCNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more. |
Singh, who won the Asian order of merit, claimed titles on three different tours last season.
| © 2007 Cable News Network. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
 |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video.