The Japan Golf Tour today pulled out of this year’s new ‘Super Series’ of Asia-Pacific tournaments, saying there were too many “unsolved questions”.
The ‘super series’ had been led by the PGA of Australia, which announced last Friday that it agreements with the China Golf Association, the Japan Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association, and the Korea PGA, reports AFP.
Kyi Hla Han, executive chairman of the Asian Tour, which had not been consulted about the plan, had responded by saying it violated the protocols which govern the International Federation of PGA Tours.
The Asian Tour has for years organized professional golf in the region and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), which organises professional golf tournaments in Japan, said it was still "the most vital entity for the promotion of this sport in this emerging region," and it could not take part in the PGA of Australia’s super series this year without the Asian Tour being involved.
The JGTO said it wants to use 2009 to "create the conditions and environment which are conducive to JGTO’s full involvement beginning with the 2010 season."
"JGTO feels there are many unsolved questions regarding other member tours' status, conditions of JGTO players’ playing conditions, marketing and broadcasting arrangement and contractual obligations each tour has with its sponsors, organizers, TV networks and promoters, just to name a few," it said.
"However, the most significant problem JGTO considers in relation to this series is the lack of involvement on the part of the Asian Tour, whose involvement is absolutely imperative and necessary ..."
"JGTO looks forward to a unified cooperative relationship between all the parties concerned and will continue to play a major role toward achieving this goal," it said.
The super series is due to begin this year with six elite tournaments, beginning with the China Open, from April 16th to 19th, and finishing with the Australian PGA Championship on December 10th to 13th.
