Asian tour dismisses rival circuit

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In a statement released on Wednesday, executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said the Asian Tour are "appalled" by the Australasian Tour's attempt to create the OneAsia Tour, describing it as an attempt to "invade" Asia.

"In view of recent news articles, the Asian Tour would like to categorically state that we will not support or be involved in the formation of a new regional Tour in Asia," the statement read.

Instead of a fully-fledged tour, the Asian Tour proposed in May the introduction of an Asia Pacific Golf Championship, a series of four to six World Golf Championship-styled events to be staged across the region featuring the best players from Asia, Japan and Australia competing for prize money that would be included in the respective tours' money rankings.

"During another meeting held at Royal Birkdale during the British Open in July, the Asian Tour once again stated that we would not accept the formation of a new Tour and would agree on the introduction of a series of events," the statement continued.

"The Australasian Tour, which has initiated the formation of the OneAsia Tour, has subsequently held meetings in Asia without inviting the Asian Tour to these meetings, which we view as going against the spirit of co-operation and an attempt to 'invade' Asia.

"The Asian Tour has been the official sanctioning body for professional golf tournaments in Asia over the past 14 years and represents players from 26 nationalities and travels to 17 different countries to stage tournaments, which in 2008 held a record 30 events with an unprecedented US$39 million in total prize money.

"Hence, we are appalled with the Australasian Tour's attempt to create another tour in this region as the Asian Tour has already successfully achieved this objective with our well-documented growth over the past decade."