Lawyers have revealed that the Asian Tour "could face further legal proceedings from disgruntled golfers in the wake of losing a restraint of trade case last week brought by four players," according to Patrick Johnston of REUTERS. A Singapore High Court judge ruled the Asian Tour's policy to fine members $5,000, later increased to $10,000, if they competed on the OneAsia Tour was "unfair" and also said that they had been guilty of "sloppy administration." Judge Judith Prakash said that the Asian Tour "must pay back the fines to Australians Terry Pilkadaris and Matthew Griffin, Dutchman Guido van der Valk and Malaysian Anis Helmi Hassan and cover all legal fees, which sources say amount to around S$500,000 ($410,200)." The Asian Tour has remained silent since, but legal experts have said that the ruling in favor of the four players, who did not seek damages, "opens up possible avenues for others to make a loss of earnings claim." Singapore-based lawyer Brown Pereira said, "They have to show a direct link between their loss of income and the prohibitive clauses on the Asian Tour. If they can show a link that they were denied playing in these tournaments because the prohibition of the Asian Tour clauses then they have a case" (REUTERS, 12/6).
