One Asia Tour closer to reality by Colin Wilson

A new professional *OneAsia Tour*, basically covering the whole western side of the Pacific, could tee up by 2009 after Japan's decision to back the plan. The OneAsia Tour has been on the drawing board for more than two years.

The initial goal is to play 20 tournaments with a minimum prize purse of $US1.5 million, although some tournaments would be worth twice that amount. Australia would look to have four or five tournaments as part of the new Tour.

"It absolutely makes sense that all the bodies in the region act together to try to create something bigger than the disparate parts," said Ben Sellenger of the Australasian PGA Tour. "This is the way forward."

The Japanese Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia have signed a memorandum of understanding to create the OneAsia Tour and are now talking with the Asian Tour and golf officials in China, South Korea, Thailand and India about signing up to the new circuit.

"Internationalisation for our players is critical as we need to have international stars from Japan," said Andy Yamanaka, chief secretary of the Japan Tour. "By working together, it is going to be a huge benefit for sponsors too as the exposure will be worldwide."

The biggest hurdle now will be formulating how the Tour would be structured, what representation each country has and how players qualify for it.

"It absolutely makes sense that all the bodies in the region act together to try to create something bigger than the disparate parts, said Sellenger. "It's a huge step for Japan to make that decision to support it."