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Josh Ball

The Asian Tour must not be sidelined in any negotiations regarding the future of golf, commissioner Cho Minn Thant said on Friday.
After overseeing a rapid rise in the organisation’s standing within the game globally, the Tour has grown to the extent it could be considered on a par with its European counterpart, the DP World Tour.
Much of that is down to the significant amount of money pumped into the Asian game by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which on Tuesday announced its shock decision to merge with the PGA Tour and DPWT.
The investment, which came through LIV Golf, allowed the creation of the International Series, a group of elevated events within the Asian Tour’s season that offer up to US$2 million in prize money a tournament.
PIF also sponsors one of the events on the Asian Tour, which with a US$5 million purse is the richest on the circuit.

That link has seen the likes of Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia all play Asian Tour events this year, raising the profile of tournaments across the region.
There is also the direct pathway to the LIV Golf League that has emerged as part of the relationship, with the winner of the series order of merit earning a spot on the Saudi-backed circuit, and the remaining players in the top 32 getting a shot at one of three other spots expected to be up for grabs this season.
While LIV executives have been busy telling anyone who will listen that it is business as usual, the PGA Tour CEO Jay Monahan has been painting a different picture and what the deal means in reality has yet to be firmly established.
“The Asian Tour has done enough over the last two years to have a proper seat at the table and not just be passengers,” Cho told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“We’re pretty confident we’re going to be relevant and have a seat at the table in these conversations. It would be a great shame if all the top players went back to playing in America.”
According to Sports Illustrated, Greg Norman, the LIV Golf CEO, told staff that the team concept was “not going anywhere” and it was business as usual for the foreseeable future.
“What LIV has done is brought world-class players around the world,” Cho said. “It was massive in Adelaide, it was very big in Singapore and I’m sure it would be very big in other places like Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.
“We’re going to have to make sure international golf remains on the agenda and it doesn’t revert back to the way it was.”


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Asian Tour

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Asian Tour commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant pictured during the pro-am  ahead of the PIF Saudi International in February. Photo: Asian Tour.

Brooks Koepka lines up a putt during the third round of the PIF Saudi International on February 4, 2023. Photo: Asian Tour.

PGA Tour merger with LIV Golf welcomed by Asian Tour boss, says it ‘validates decision’ to side with Saudi Arabia

Asian Tour commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant speaks to the media at the International Series Thailand in March. Photo: Asian Tour.

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was kept in the dark regarding the merger. Photo: AFP

PGA Tour and LIV Golf to merge with DP World Tour, in what Jay Monahan calls ‘historic’ moment for game

Sergio Garcia was among the players who had joined the breakaway LIV Golf circuit. Photo: AP

England’s Sam Horsfield of the Majesticks team in action during the second round of the inaugural LIV Golf event in England last year. Photo: Reuters

PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan attends the champion’s ceremony at the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago tournament on September 18, 2022. Photo: AP

Sport

Golf

Commissioner Cho Minn Thant says he is ‘pretty confident’ that his organisation’s opinion will be relevant
Financial backing from LIV Golf has raised the Asian Tour’s standing within the game


Commissioner Cho Minn Thant says he is ‘pretty confident’ that his organisation’s opinion will be relevant.
