Melbourne, Jan 28: The PGA of Australia has vowed to push on with its controversial "super series" of Asia-Pacific golf tournaments as a rift with the Asian Tour showed no signs of easing.
It follows the Japan Golf Tour on Tuesday pulling out of this year`s inaugural events, saying there were too many unresolved issues and it couldn`t take part without the Asian Tour`s involvement.
Rather, it wants to use 2009 to "create the conditions and environment which are conducive to JGTO`s full involvement beginning with the 2010 season."
Australian PGA Tour commissioner Ben Sellenger insisted Japan, along with China and Korea, remains committed to the concept, and would be a full partner in 2010.
"The Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) is one of the founding partners of the OneAsia concept and they remain committed to be fully involved from 2010 onwards," he told reporters.
The Asian Tour reacted furiously to the announcement of the series, which organisers hope will one day rival the US PGA and European Tours, with executive chairman Kyi Hla Han claiming it breached the spirit of the game.
Sellenger refused to comment on Kyi Hla`s claims that the Australians had violated the protocols which govern the International Federation of PGA Tours, of which the Asian Tour and PGA of Australia are members.
"I`m not going to respond to Kyi Hla and his criticism," he said. "I`m not going to get into a tit-for-tat.”
"The criticism has been raised and responded to in the past. I`m happy to speak with all members of the super series and will do so over the next few weeks.”
"Whether the Asian Tour chooses to be involved or not is up to them."
The super series is due to begin this year with six elite tournaments.
It is scheduled to start with the China Open from April 16-19 and wind up with the Australian PGA Championship on December 10-13.
Kyi Hla has said dates for three of the events announced -- the Volvo China Open, Midea China Classic and Pine Valley Beijing Open -- have agreements in place with the Asian Tour.
But Sellenger said the promoters and owners of the events were committed to the super series.
"We have spoken to the tournament promotors and owners and they have come back with agreements," he said.
"These first six tournaments will be a very solid base from which to grow the pre-eminent golf platform in the Asia-Pacific."
They will clearly be a threat to the Asian Tour which for years has organized professional golf in the region, helping it grow into the hugely successful, and profitable, entity that it is today.
Sellenger said it was "common sense" to coordinate all the tours in the Asia-Pacific region to help stem the flow of top players to the US and Europe.
"The European Tour is growing and starting to move into the Middle East and Asia and the US Tour, of course, is huge," he said.
"It is common sense to coordinate all the tours in the Asia-Pacific for the benefit of everyone. That`s why all the tours have been in discussion about the OneAsia concept for five or six years. “
"We want to provide real career playing alternatives for our golfers. Now, when they reach a certain standard they look to the European or US Tours. “
"The OneAsia concept is designed to offer players an opportunity to play in big tournaments and build their careers at home."
Announcements including player eligibility, prize money and the official name of the super series are expected in coming weeks.
Bureau Report
