Asian, European golf tours form ‘strategic alliance’

But while the alliance hopes to expand playing opportunities for members, the Asian Tour and the European Tour will retain their separate identities in terms of brand and logo, and will be be managed by their own boards, a joint statement said.

“The formalisation of the partnership will see the two Tours now work together to develop professional golf in Asia —from a new joint office in Singapore,” it said.

The alliance will combine both Tours’ “commercial and marketing resources to explore and maximise opportunities... not only across the continent of Asia, but globally”, the statement added.

It described the cooperation as a “strategic alliance” resulting from a “detailed period of exclusive negotiations” which began last August. The Asian and European bodies had previously talked about merging their playing memberships and business interests, creating a mega-tour with the potential to tilt golf’s global landscape.

In December, after Kerr’s departure, the old Asian Tour board of directors, including former European Tour chief Ken Schofield, was ousted. Four prominent Asian businessmen were voted in as non-playing directors, three board player members were also removed and Han was promoted from chairman to “interim Tour Commissioner”.