New Asia-Pacific golf series signals potential conflict with Asian Tour

May 14th, 2009 Asian Tour cancels Bangkok tourney with no sponsorSINGAPORE — Asia's top golf tour has canceled its season-ending tournament in Thailand after Volvo pulled its sponsorship. The Swedish carmaker declined to extend its sponsorship of the Volvo Masters of Asia for 2009, Volvo Event Management chief executive Per Ericsson said.

April 29th, 2009 Nationwide Tour postpones Mexico eventPONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The Nationwide Tour has postponed the Mexico Open golf tournament scheduled for May 21-24 because of the swine flu outbreak.

April 29th, 2009 Australasian PGA questions OneAsia sanctionsMELBOURNE, Australia — Australasian PGA Tour commissioner Ben Sellenger plans to take up the cases of four Australian players who were fined and suspended from the Asian Tour for playing in the first tournament of the rival OneAsia series. Ashley Hall, Chris Gaunt, Brad Kennedy and Jason King were this week fined $5,000 and suspended from the Asian Tour for the remainder of 2009 after playing in the China Open earlier this month.

April 28th, 2009 HSBC tournament to become WGC eventSHANGHAI, China — The HSBC Champions tournament will become part of the elite World Golf Championship series from November, presenting Tiger Woods with a new challenge in Asia. The International Federation of PGA Tours announced Tuesday that the Shanghai event, first staged four years ago, had been elevated to World Golf Championship status and would increase its prize money to $7 million — a high for the sport in the region.

April 14th, 2009 SINGAPORE - India's ace gofer Jeev Milkha Singh was Tuesday honoured with the honorary membership of the Asian Tour for his outstanding contribution to the game of golf in Asia and across the world. Jeev joins the exclusive club of Asian Tour honorary members which include Vijay Singh of Fiji and Korea's K.J.

March 27th, 2009 SHENZHEN - India's Rashid Khan successfully defended his Faldo Series Asia title at the Mission Hills Golf Club Friday after a nail-biting finish to the third Grand Final. The 18-year-old Khan won with a birdie four on the 18th hole of the Faldo Course to finish at five-under-par, one ahead of Spain's Adrian Jauregui, who had chipped in for eagle on the same hole playing one group in front.

March 26th, 2009 SHENZHEN - Defending champion Rashid Khan had a modest start with an even par 72 in the Under-18 section of the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final at the Mission Hills Golf Club. Fellow Indian Amanjyot Singh also scored an even par 72.

March 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Top Indian golfers Jyoti Randhawa and S.S.P. Chowrasia will lead the field in the second edition of the SAIL Open at the Classic Golf Resort here March 18.

February 5th, 2009 BANGKOK - India's Rahil Gangjee and Gaganjeet Bhullar were tied fifth at the midway stage of the Asian Tour International golf here Friday. The two are at eight-under 134, while Finland's Toni Karjalainen began his rookie year on the Asian Tour strongly when he carded a second round 12-under-par 64 to take the lead.

February 4th, 2009 BANGKOK - India's Rahil Gangjee got off to a stunning start with a flawless six-under 65 that put him in tied second place in the early stages of the first round of the Asian Tour International which kicked off the 2009 season for the Asian Tour golf. Also making a strong beginning was Gaganjeet Bhullar with a five-under 67 at the Suwan Golf and Country Club.

February 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Jeev Milkha Singh, Asia No. 1, and one of the hottest golfers from the region, favours a dialogue, rather than a confrontation between the Asian Tour and the proposed Super Series.

January 24th, 2009 SINGAPORE - The Asian Tour has strongly condemned the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of Australia for announcing a new professional golf series that it plans to stage in the Asia Pacific region. The Asian Tour in a statement said it is shocked and disapproves of this desperate attempt by the PGA of Australia to revive its flagging domestic circuit, through its proposed creation of a series by listing events, which are already part of the Asian Tour Schedule.

January 23rd, 2009 GURGAON - Simi Mehra, back in her usual form, stole the show with a 2 under par 70 in the third round and claimed the eighth leg of the DLF Women's Professional Golf Tour held at the DLF Golf and Country Club here Saturday. Simi had rounds of 79, 75 and 70 for a total of 224.

January 20th, 2009 BANGKOK - Chinese Taipei golfing star Lin Wen-tang is eyeing a successful title defence of the $300,000 Asian Tour International title here next month. Lin, winner of two titles en route to a career high second place on the Order of Merit last season, will be joined by an elite field which includes local heroes Thaworn Wiratchant, Boonchu Ruangkit and Prayad Marksaeng and recent Qualifying School winner Daisuke Maruyama of Japan.

January 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's golfer Rashid Khan, who has enjoyed a whirlwind year since winning the Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, that earned him a trip to Brazil with Nick Faldo as well as an appearance on the Asian Tour, is all set to defend his title at Mission Hills Golf Club in China from March 25-27. The 17-year-old Khan claimed the Faldo Series Asia trophy in sensational style at Mission Hills in December 2007, shooting a final-day 66 that included a back-nine of 31 in front of legendary golfer Faldo himself.