By Steve Keating
AUGUSTA, Georgia (Reuters) – An infusion of Saudi Arabia cash and an established international series has raised the Asian Tour profile but not enough yet to attract LIV Golf’s big names in search of world ranking points.
When LIV Golf backers the Public Investment Fund (PIF) said it would pump $400 million into the Asian Tour, it was thought it would provide an option for players banned from the PGA and DP Tours to build world ranking points, the main currency for entry into the four majors tournaments.
A few lesser known LIV members have taken advantage of the opportunity but Asian Tour CEO Cho Minn Thant told Reuters the big name bump has not yet happened.
“Admittedly you don’t see the Dustin Johnsons of the world, not the Phil Mickelsons, not the Bryson Dechambeaus because they have qualified for the major events already,” said Cho on Wednesday outside Augusta National clubhouse.
“Playing 14 events on the LIV league and four majors doesn’t leave much more room for them to travel and play golf.
“Mid-range LIV players are playing a lot on the Asian Tour and it has really elevated the strength of field from our side and the interest in terms of media.”
Players like Johnson, Mickelson and Bubba Watson, who have Green Jackets in their closets and have lifetime exemptions to the Masters, are feeling no urgency to chase ranking points.
LIV Golf applied for recognition from the Official World Golf Ranking, which plays a key role in determining entry into golf’s four majors, in July 2022 but was rejected last October and withdrew its application last month.
The recent decision could prompt renewed interest in the Asian Tour from the more prominent LIV members who earned exemptions into the blue-riband events due to past results but could one day be left out with no ranking points.
Over the last three years the Asian Tour has entered into a growth cycle expanding to 24 tournaments, including 10 international series elevated events moving into Middle East, Africa and the Middle East with events.
The Asia Tour is also becoming less reliant on Saudi cash said Cho as sponsors get onboard.
“I think we are about where we expected to be after two-three years,” explained Cho. “We’ve expanded very quickly over the last three years.
“It is great to see the corporate worlds starting to support the tournaments rather than LIV or Saudi having to underwrite all of them.
“Post-COVID we still have not seen South East Asia recover as fast as we would have liked and the Middle East is thriving right now, we have an event in Oman, one in Qatar, two events in Saudi.
“There is a lot of interest from entities in the Middle East wanting to do business in Asia who see golf as a good platform.
“There’s a lot of golf out there and a lot of countries.”
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Augusta. Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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