The EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM, a new match-play event between Europe and Asia, will be part of the initial sector of the 2014 European Tour Int'l Schedule, which was unveiled Monday.
Taking place at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Malaysia from March 28-30, the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM will be sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour, pitting 10 of Europe’s leading players against a 10-man team from Asia in a format similar to the Ryder Cup. It is one of two new events announced on the early part of the '14 int'l schedule, along with the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which takes place at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa, from Dec. 5-8. With a prize fund of $6.5M, the Nedbank Golf Challenge will be co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour and will feature a 30-player field (European Tour). The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported Europe "will select the leading four players available from the final Race to Dubai rankings" at the conclusion of the '13 season, "the leading four players available from the Official World Golf Ranking" on Feb. 3 and two captain's picks. The Asian team "will include the leading four available players from the final 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit, the leading three players invited on the basis of their Official World Golf Ranking and three captain's picks" (DAILY RECORD, 8/26). The AFP reported Charlie Tingey, director of EurAsia Golf, an entity formed by the two tours to launch the competition, said that "it is hoped the tournament will 'catapult' more Asian golfers onto the world stage." Tingey brushed off concerns that the competition "could struggle to attract top European golfers due to its timing." It comes a month before the Masters in the U.S., "when many players stay closer to home to hone their game for that premier event." He said, "This is a tournament run by the tours. There is no perfect date. We do expect the full support of the players" (AFP, 8/26).
