This week in golf

LPGA TOUR

Ginn Open

Site: Reunion, Fla.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Ginn Reunion Resort (6,505 yards, par 72).

Last year: Brittany Lincicome beat Lorena Ochoa by a stroke for her second tour title, closing with an even-par 72 in windy conditions. Ochoa finished with a 77.

PGA TOUR

Verizon Heritage

Site: Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Harbour Town Golf Links (6,973 yards, par 71).

Purse: $5.5 million. Winner's share: $990,000.

FedEx Cup points: 25,000. Winner's share: 4,500.

Last year: Boo Weekley won his first PGA Tour title, chipping in on the final two holes to hold off Ernie Els by a stroke.

PGA EUROPEAN TOUR/ASIAN TOUR/CHINA GOLF ASSOCIATION

Volvo China Open

Site: Beijing.

Schedule: Thursday-Sunday.

Course: Beijing CBD International Golf Club (7,321 yards, par 72).

Purse: $2.2 million. Winner's share: $367,740.

Last year: Austria's Markus Brier won at Shanghai Silport, finishing with a 4-under 67 for a five-stroke victory.

Asian qualifying for the British open

Malaysia's Danny Chia will make his second appearance at the British Open this July after carding a three-under-par 69 for the second successive round at Asia's International Final Qualifying tournament on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old sank crucial birdie putts on the 16th and 17th at the Sentosa Golf Club to lead all qualifiers on six-under-par 138, securing a second trip to the sport's oldest major after playing in the 2005 Open at St. Andrews.

Chia, who won the Taiwan Open in 2002, will be teeing off at Royal Birkdale on July 17 along with Australia's Adam Blyth, Singapore's Lam Chih Bing and Angelo Que of the Philippines as the four qualifiers from the 64-player field.

"I didn't putt well today but I played good," Chia told reporters.

"I played within myself and made two birdies coming back when I needed them the most.

"It's going to be very exciting to go back to the Open. I was there in 2005 and hopefully I've learned from that and will use it in Royal Birkdale."

Blyth, who will be appearing at his first major, fired a bogey-free 66 to finish a shot behind Chia, while Que and Lam emerged from a three-man playoff after signing for two-day totals of 140 in a share of third place.

"The putts just went in today," the 26-year-old Blyth said.

"I played scrappy yesterday but managed to get myself into position this morning. I'm stoked to get into my first major."

Asian qualifying for the open

Malaysian golfer Danny Chia, Angelo Que of the Philippines and England's Yasin Ali shared a three-way tie for the lead after day one of Asia's International Qualifying for the 2008 Open.

Chia, an Asian Tour regular, sank six birdies against three bogeys at Singapore's Sentosa Golf Club on his way to a three-under-par 69 on Tuesday while Que enjoyed five birdies.

Ali had been clear of the field as he stood on the 18th tee at five-under but found water with a drive which led to a double bogey.

Just behind them, Filipino Antonio Lascuna, Ben Leong of Malaysia, who scored a hole-in-one, and Japanese duo Tomohiro Kondo and Keiichiro Fukabori shot 70s to stay in the hunt for the four tickets at stake to The Open at Royal Birkdale, England in July at the two-day qualifier.

Ali chose to look to the positive, despite his disappointing finish.

"I played pretty solid except for a few loose shots. The shots I dropped today were water balls. If I can keep out of the water, I should be okay," he told the Asian Tour's Web site www.asiantour.com.

"It'll be awesome if I can qualify for the oldest major that we have. But with four spots available, you never know what the guys can shoot. You just try to make as many birdies as you can and total it up at the end of the day."

Qualifying events are held on five continents, with Africa and Australasia competitions already completed. The United States will host one in Michigan starting June 30, with another at Sunningdale, England getting underway the same day.

McDowell wins Ballantine's Championships

Jeev Milkha Singh again faltered at the finish losing in the third play-off hole to Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell in the inaugural Ballantine's Championships on Sunday.

At one stage Jeev led McDowell by three shots, but the latter came back into reckoning with an eagle on the tenth. Then Jeev had a terrible tee shot on 17th to bogey the hole and that saw them finish in a tie, leading to a play-off.

This was the second runner-up finish for Jeev, who was also second at the Astro Enjoy Indonesia Open four weeks ago.

Jeev and McDowell, who shared the lead overnight, shot six-under 66 to finish the regulation 72 holes in 24-under 264 sending the clash in a play-off. After halving two play-off holes, Jeev missed a short putt and lost as McDowell picked his first title in four years.

Jyoti Randhawa (67) finished tied 11th while Gaurav Ghei (72) was 57th.

It was the fifth European Tour in succession in which Indians had at least one player in top five. Indians have won two events, finished second in two and took the fifth spot in one event.

Asian Tour rejects OneAsia

The Asian Tour rejected plans for a regional golf "super tour" on Friday after they were formally endorsed by Japan, Australia, China and South Korea.

Asian Tour chief executive Kyi Hla Han said the OneAsia project, designed to rival the European and US circuits, did not serve the region's best interests.

"Following a statement issued by the PGA of Australia this morning in regards to plans for an Asia-Pacific golf tour, the Asian Tour unequivocally states that we are not endorsing or participating in this initiative," he said in a statement.

"Plans to launch this new Asia-Pacific golf tour are being driven aggressively by the PGA of Australia, whose tour is diminishing, and the Asian Tour believes it does not serve the best interests and growth of professional golf in Asia," Kyi Hla added.

The Japan Golf Tour Organisation, China Golf Association, Korean Golf Association and the PGA of Australia earlier said they had reached agreement for the new tour with a planned launch in January.

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

"In an effort to better promote the game of golf and take the game to a higher level in the Asia-Pacific region, each of the founding tours believe it is necessary to find a single regional organisation that can truly represent the common rights and benefits of relevant local golf bodies and their members," the groups said in a joint statement.

"The new tour will seek to bring together the best tournaments conducted throughout Asia-Pacific to create an alternative elite career pathway for national organisations and their aspiring professional golfers in the region."

Friday's joint statement said an interim board had been appointed to guide the creation and launch of the tour, consisting of representatives from each of the founding tours. A board chairman will be officially appointed shortly.

Australasian PGA Tour chief executive Ben Sellenger has trumpeted the plan, saying it will lift playing standards and attract more big stars to the region.

He has also said the initial target was to play 20 tournaments with a minimum purse of 1.5 million US dollars, although some tournaments would be worth twice that amount.

However Kyi Hla, who signalled reluctance to the plan in an AFP interview this month, said Asian Tour members "unanimously" did not want to be involved in the new initiative.

"Since the Asian Tour's formation as a players' organisation in 2004, the Asian Tour Schedule has expanded greatly where in 2008 we are poised to surpass 30 tournaments for the first time in Asian golf history and offer an unprecedented 40 million dollars in total prize money," he said.

"Elite and major golf tournaments already form the burgeoning Asian Tour Schedule and the Asian Tour firmly believe that we are on the correct pathway in developing, promoting and growing professional golf in Asia under the existing Tour structure," Kyi Hla said.

OneAsia is officially on

The PGA Tour of Australia has joined forces with golf organisations in Japan, China and Korea to form a new Asian Tour.

The OneAsia Tour will include the top tournaments currently held in the Asia-Pacific, with the aim of producing an elite level of competition in the region.

Organisers hope to start the new tour in January next year.

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

"In an effort to better promote the game of golf and take the game to a higher level in the Asia-Pacific region, each of the founding tours believe it is necessary to find a single regional organisation that can truly represent the common rights and benefits of relevant local golf bodies and their members," the bodies of the four countries said in a joint statement.

"The new tour will seek to bring together the best tournaments conducted throughout Asia-Pacific to create an alternative elite career pathway for national organisations and their aspiring professional golfers in the region."

The chief of the current Asian Tour, however, has signalled reluctance to sign up to the new tour, which is yet to be officially named but is being referred to as OneAsia.

Kyi Hla Han said the project to merge the Asian, Australasian and Japanese circuits into the OneAsia Tour was complex and may not benefit the present regional set-up.

Friday's joint statement said an interim board has been appointed to guide the creation and launch of the tour, consisting of representatives from each of the founding tours. A board chairman will be officially appointed shortly.

Australasian PGA Tour chief executive Ben Sellenger has trumpeted the plan, saying it will lift playing standards and attract more big stars to the region.

He has also said the initial target was to play 20 tournaments with a minimum prize money purse of $US1.5 million, although some tournaments would be worth twice that amount.

Arjun Atwal wins Malaysian Open

Arjun Atwal, the Indian player involved in a fatal car accident last year, won the Malaysian Open on Sunday, beating defending champion Peter Hedblom of Sweden with a par on the second hole of a playoff.

Atwal, also the 2003 winner at The Mines, birdied the 18th to force the playoff. He finished with an 8-under 64 to match Hedblom (71) at 18-under 270 on the Kota Permai course. Both players parred the first extra hole.

Atwal, a three-time European tour winner, hasn't been charged in the March 10, 2007, accident in Orlando, Fla., that killed fellow motorist John Park. Witnesses have said Atwal and Park were street racing, with the Florida Highway Patrol estimating Atwal was going 128 k.p.h. in a 70 k.p.h. zone just before Park's speeding car flipped.

Australia's Kane Webber (65) and England's Simon Dyson (69) finished a stroke out of the playoff in the event sanctioned by the European and Asian tours. New Zealand's Mark Brown, coming off consecutive wins in India in the Asian Tour's SAIL Open and the co-sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic, closed with a 69 to tie for 26th at 10 under.

Asian golfers invited to the masters

Asian Tour stars Liang Wen-chong, Jeev Milkha Singh and Prayad Marksaeng have expressed delight after receiving special invitations to compete in The Masters tournament in April.

The trio were over the moon Tuesday after learning they will compete in the year's first major and have vowed to perform admirably at Augusta National Golf Club to reinforce the rise of Asian golf.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said their invitations were further recognition of the Tour's growing stature.

"We are delighted for our three players. It is another endorsement for the Asian Tour," said Kyi, adding that he was grateful for the "belief and vision for golf in Asia".

"I am confident that Liang Wen-chong, Prayad Marksaeng and Jeev Milkha Singh will fly the Asian Tour flag proudly at Augusta National in their quest to challenge the world's best golfers."

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne announced the names for the April 10-13 tournament on Monday.

"These three individuals are successful, accomplished and talented golfers deserving of a Masters invitation," Payne said. "They are outstanding representatives of their respective countries."

More Asian players can qualify for the Masters by winning a US PGA event or placing among the top 50 on the world golf rankings in the week before the tournament...

Read the complete golf news story

My Thoughts

I have been saying it for a while now, but golf in Asia is gaining strength all the time. When Asians get a chance to play in the English Premier League the TV money follows and I think that golf will also reap the rewards. However, I don't think that this is purely a marketing ploy and I am sure that the Asia players will do themselves and their countries proud.

Golf Super Tour OneAsia - The third tour emerges in 2009?

A new Super golf Tour involving Australia, New Zealand and Asia could tee up by 2009 after Japan's decision to back the ambitious plan.

The OneAsia Tour, involving Australia, New Zealand, India and Asia has been on the drawing board for more than two years.

Japan's commitment is regarded as a major breakthrough to establish a third Tour behind America and Europe.

At the moment the Australasian and Asia tours clash with a number of co-sanctioned events because they've been pushed by America and Europe to play their tournaments at the end of the year.

Ben Sellenger from the Australasian PGA Tour said the new tour was now a "reality" and could be up and running in opposition to the European and lucrative US PGA Tour by 2009.

He stressed there was a lot of work and planning still to be done.

Sellenger said initially the goal was to play 20 tournaments initially with a minimum prizemoney purse of $US1.5 million although some tournaments would be worth twice that amount.

Australia would look to have four or five tournaments as part of the new Tour which would run for 12 months.

The proposed Tour would offer more top-class tournaments, lift playing standards and attract more of the world's best golfers, said Ben Sellenger...

Read full golf story.

I think that this could be great for golf in the Australiasia region.

Tell me what you think - leave a comment.

My Asian tour thoughts (Hong Kong Open)

Watching a few Asia Tour events the last few weeks I have been very impressed with the way Asian golf is going. It seems to have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and has had me very pleasantly surprised. The increase in prize money and world ranking points have attracted some big names to some often overlooked events.

I personally see Asia as an area with so much potential I believe the Asian tour will become a very strong tour in skill, prize money and sponsorship.

This week, as we speak actually, the Hong Kong Open is being played. The first round saw KJ Choi shoot an impressive 62, which puts his in a commanding position.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the new and improved Asian Tour - please leave a comment!

Golf News: Cabrera wins Singapore Open

Most people probably thought the Singapore Open was virtually won on the third day, but Vijay Singh had other plans. The big Fijian, who has recently remodeled his swing, charged home on the final day to draw level with Angel Cabrera on the final hole only to see Cabrera sink a putt of his own to win the tournament. Two time winner Adam Scott could not match his previous performances and finished 5 off the pace in third.

The biggest disappointments of the tournament were that Ernie Els missed the cut and the big lefty Phil Mickelson shot a final round 79. Take nothing away from Angel Cabrera though who has been in fine form this year!