KPGA tour looking to expand its presence

The Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) tour is looking to expand its presence in Asia after its successful collaboration with the China Golf Association (CGA) last week.

The inaugural KEB China-Korea Tour 2008, part of the KPGA tour, took place at the Shanghai Silport Golf Club last weekend, inviting the top 60 professional golfers from Korea and China to compete together.

The $400,000 tournament was the first golf collaboration between the two Asian neighbors and more are planned for the future.

"In the winter, the weather in South Korea is not suitable to play golf," said Park Ho Yoon, general manager of KPGA.

"Our players have not competed for a long time, so we looked to collaborate with CGA and finally brought our best players to China's southeast areas, where the weather is good enough for the sport.

"It's our first time abroad and it was a very successful trip. We are planning to set up more tours in China every winter in the future.

Led by world No 5 Choi Kyung-Ju, better known as K.J. Choi, Korea's golfers have been successful in the US PGA and EPGA. Although its best players are spending most of their time competing in the world's top tours, Korea's domestic tour is still more firmly established than China's.

"I am sure it's a win-win result for both of us. Our players are in higher levels and the competition and exchange will help improve Chinese players," Park added.

Park also revealed KPGA is planning to hold a number of tours in Southeast Asian countries during the winter season.

"It's like mutual help - we are looking for better competition areas and their players are looking for chances to compete with higher-level players.

The latest cooperation between the two countries came on March 14 with a joint announcement by Japan, China, South Korea and Australia that they would create a regional super tour to rival Europe and the US.

The Japan Golf Tour Organization, the China Golf Association, the Korean Golf Association and the PGA of Australia said they have reached an agreement for the new tour with a planned launch in January next year.

The tour's backers envision an eventual 35-stop tour to rival the lucrative and hugely popular US PGA and European tours, with existing circuits acting as feeders.

Park said detailed discussion is still underway.

"Every country has its own tour so it's very difficult to arrange the schedule of the such a regional tour.

"They also have to discuss how many players each association will send and how prize money should be offered."

(China Daily 03/27/2008 page22)