The Asian Tour will return to China for the first time since '08, with "up to four new events planned" in '17, in a "game changer" partnership with the China Golf Association, according to Shravanth Vijayakumar of REUTERS. The partnership will be a "threat to the future of the breakaway OneAsia circuit," which was established in '09 with a joint venture between the PGA Tour of Australasia, the CGA, the Korean Golf Association and the Korean PGA. The Asian Tour previously "co-sanctioned and staged tournaments with the CGA" from '95-08, before the OneAsia circuit began. Asian Tour CEO Josh Burack said, "Restarting cooperation is a game changer for the Asian Tour and CGA." The prize purses for the new events will be between $300,000 and $500,000, with "further expansion planned from next year" (REUTERS, 3/17). In Hong Kong, Andrew Mullen reported Burack "has endured a busy few months since taking control of the Asian Tour" in September, as a potential merger with the European Tour was downgraded to a "strategic alliance" in February. Earnings from the new events will count toward both the Asian Tour and China Tour Order of Merits, while winners of the co-sanctioned tournaments will also "earn exemption on the Asian Tour" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 3/17).
