SINGAPORE: The Asian Tour has announced its 2011 schedule with a provisional 25 tournaments which will travel throughout Asia and as far as Switzerland. Asia’s elite players will shoot for a projected total prize fund in excess of $45 million next year, the highest ever in the history of Asian golf. Organisers said it would reinforce the Asian Tour as the third largest international Tour behind the PGA Tour and European Tour. Asian Tour chairman Kyi Hla Han said the schedule would be extended in the coming weeks as the Tour was in final negotiations with various sponsors and organisers for new tournaments. “Through key alliances with our partners, we are moving forward at an exciting pace for the betterment of professional golf in Asia,” he said.
“Our new global television platform which takes the Asian Tour to major markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Australia … has broadened the unique appeal of the Asian Tour and will continue to provide the thrust for growth. Our players will continue to enjoy a wealth of playing opportunities with direct access as well to international events including the World Golf Championships and the British Open through our status as a full member of the International Federation of PGA Tours,” Kyi Hla Han said. The Asian Tour season will begin with the Qualifying School in Thailand in January with the top-40 finishers at the final stage earning Tour cards.
2011 Asian Tour schedule
Jan 13-16: Qualifying School First Stage, Imperial Lake Golf Club & Majestic Creek Country Club, Hua Hin, Thailand
Jan 20-23: Qualifying School Final Stage, presented by Sports Authority of Thailand, Imperial Lakeview & Springfield Royal Country Club, Hua Hin
Feb 10-13: Myanmar Open, Pun Hlaing Golf Club, Yangon
Feb 17-20: Avantha Masters, DLF Golf and Country Club, New Delhi
Mar 22-25: SAIL Open, Delhi Golf Club, India
Apr 14-17: Maybank Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club
Apr 21-24: OSK Masters, Damai Laut Country Club, Lumut, Malaysia
Apr 28-May 1: Ballantine’s Championships, Blackstone Resort, Seoul
May 5-8: Philippine Open, Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, Manila
June 23-26: Queen’s Cup, Santiburi Samui Country Club, Samui, Thailand
July 21-24: Brunei Open, Empire Resort and Country Club, Bandar Seri Begawan
July 28-31: Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters, Seri Selangor Golf Club, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Aug 4-7: Omega Mission Hills World Cup Qualifying – Asia, venue TBA
Sep 1-4: Omega European Masters, Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans, Switzerland
Sept 8-11: Handa Singapore Classic, Orchid Country Club, Singapore
Sept 22-25: Asia Pacific Panasonic Open, venue TBA, Japan
Sept 29-Oct 2: Indonesia President Invitational,
venue TBA
Oct 6-9: Yeangder Tournament Players Championship, Linkou International Gol and Country Club, Taipei
Oct 27-30: CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia, The Mines Resort and Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur
Nov 3-6: WGC HSBC Champions, venue TBA, China – Dailytimes
