European Tour wants China Open to remain Asian Tour event

The European Tour says it wants next month's Volvo China Open to remain a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Tour and not the controversial new OneAsia Tour.

The lucrative tournament has been jointly hosted by the European Tour, Asian Tour and China Golf Association since 2004 but this year became part of the "super series" of Asia-Pacific golf tournaments launched by OneAsia.

The move infuriated Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han who has accused OneAsia, comprising the Australian PGA, the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Association and the Korea PGA, of "unethical" behaviour. Last week, he severed all ties with the series and no Asian Tour players will take part in the tournament which is headlined by Colin Montgomerie, defending champion Damien McGrane, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke.

Keith Waters, the European Tour's director of international policy, told AFP that retaining the status quo, with the Asian Tour as a partner, was the best way forward.

"The European Tour is in dialogue with all the parties concerned and is assisting where possible," he said.

"When a new Tour, OneAsia, is formed and another Tour, the Asian Tour, is removed at short notice from tournaments they have sanctioned for several years there are going to be issues that require some discussion and clarification.

He said that in the interests of tournament sponsor Volvo, the European Tour's global television partners and its players, there should not be any changes.

"We have suggested that the previous sanction arrangements between the European Tour, Asian Tour and China Golf Association for the Volvo China Open remain in place for this tournament which is in just four weeks time, while these discussions continue," he said.

Australian PGA chief executive Max Garske said he was surprised by Waters' comments and remained adamant that the China Open will be a OneAsia event. "I am surprised by the comments because the decision isn't made by Keith Waters, it is made by the Chinese Golf Association who have clearly stated it will be a OneAsia event," he told Australian Associated Press.

"We are getting fairly positive responses to everything that is going on and there is a lot going on behind the scenes in organising events in a short time frame." Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han welcomed Waters' remarks, highlighting that the two Tours had been long-term partners.

"The European Tour recognises that the Asian Tour is the official sanctioning body in Asia," he told AFP. "We appreciate the European Tour's position in this matter." He reiterated that if OneAsia was involved, Asian Tour players would not be taking part in an event that has the bonus of the winner earning a spot in the elite Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain.

SINGAPORE, Tuesday AFP