Asia’s biggest golf tour has formed a “strategic alliance” with Europe that will allow both to work together to develop the sport in Asia, according to the AFP. A joint statement from the Asian Tour and European Tour said that "while the alliance hopes to expand playing opportunities for members," the tours will "retain their separate identities in terms of brand and logo, and will be managed by their own boards." The statement said, "The formalization of the partnership will see the two Tours now work together to develop professional golf in Asia -- from a new joint office in Singapore." It added that the alliance will combine both Tours' "commercial and marketing resources to explore and maximize opportunities ... not only across the continent of Asia, but globally" (AFP, 7/18). REUTERS' Nivedita Shankar reported talks on the expected union "appeared to be in trouble" in December when Asian Tour CEO Mike Kerr resigned for unspecified reasons "following player concerns about limited opportunities on the combined circuit." Last year’s Asian Tour featured only 12 stand-alone events with "many more co-sanctioned with larger circuits such as the European, U.S. PGA and Japan Tours who all boast fuller schedules and bigger prize money." Asian Tour Commissioner Kyi Hla Han said, "We are also confident a greater collaboration between the Asian Tour and European Tour will deliver a stronger product to our partners and appeal to new sponsors to get involved with the game" (REUTERS, 7/18).
