Asian Tour CEO and commissioner Cho Minn Thant has underlined the importance of the new LIV Golf-partnered International Series, explaining the many benefits of the ‘player-centric’ flagship series of elevated marquee events.
The International Series events are played in strategically selected venues around the world, with stops on the 2022 Asian Tour so far in Thailand, England, Singapore and Korea, with two new North African destinations, in Morocco and Egypt, announced on Sunday.
Speaking on the sidelines of last week’s US $1.5m International Series Korea, where victory went to Taehoon Ok at the Lotte Skyhill Country Club Jeju, he said: “The International Series is beneficial to the Asian Tour for a number of reasons. First, we get eight new tournaments this season and moving forward it will be at least 10 next year.
“These events are very player centric, and all about the player experience. We take care of the player accommodation, F&B, activities and even services such as a barber shop and players recreation area in the locker room. We go the extra mile to take care of the players and from that perspective I hope they are happy with it.
“From the LIV Golf perspective, our association means we are a platform that LIV Golf can use for players to progress to the LIV Golf Invitationals this year and the LIV Golf League in future, so it acts as a feeder into their series.
“Also, the LIV Golf Invitationals is eight events this year and the LIV Golf League will be 14 next year. Outside of these, professional golfers need to play to fill out their schedule and hopefully the International Series is an option for them to come and play outside the LIV Golf events, to keep sharp and come and play competitively.”
A number of LIV regulars such as Patrick Reed, Chase Keopka, Peter Uihlein, Andy Ogletree, and Turk Pettit have already chosen to take part in International Series events. Asian Tour members Wade Ormsby, Sihwan Kim, Sadom Kaekwanjana, Scott Vincent, Travis Smyth, Viraj Madappa, Kevin Yuan, Justin Harding and Phachara Khongwatmai have likewise experienced LIV’s new 54-hole format through good performances in the series.
Cho played down any concerns that his members might have about potential ineligibility for PGA Tour events through their participation in the series, because of its association with LIV Golf.
“There are some players who are concerned about playing International Series events and becoming ineligible for PGA Tour. That’s not the case – we have clarified this with the PGA Tour that the restriction is not in play.
“The International Series is fully sanctioned by the Asian Tour. It forms part of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and there are several players who have played on the International Series who are playing on the PGA Tour, Korean Joohyung Kim (Recent winner of the Wyndham Championship on PGA Tour) being a prime example.”
The high-profile International Series tournaments are underwritten and promoted by LIV Golf, with commercial sponsorship a major focus moving forward for the team at the Asian Tour. Cho explained: “We are extremely grateful to LIV Golf for their support. Ultimately, the goal is for corporate sponsors to sustain the tournaments themselves and for LIV to revert to being a promoter at these events.
“Each International Series event will have the ‘presenting partner’ position available, and the focus next year will include sponsor activations and engaging more spectators to attend events.”
Cho also explained how the Asian Tour has already supported LIV Golf in their bid to secure world ranking points.
He said: “LIV Golf are applying for world ranking points independently, but the process requires a nomination by one of the full-member Tours.
“As a good partner, it was our responsibility to help LIV Golf submit their bid for world ranking points and that is underway now – the Asian Tour has nominated them, and they are providing technical information that will support their application with the intention of getting world ranking points next year.”
While the landmark partnership is incredibly important to the Asian Tour, pragmatic Cho views it as one of many options for Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour members.
He explained: “Our mandate is to provide a pathway for our members to further their careers. We now provide our members with the opportunity to play LIV Golf events but we also support members like Joohyung Kim who choose the PGA Tour path. We have many members who are dual members of other Tours and play in Japan, Europe or Australia, we don’t have a problem at all.”
“For the longest time the Asian Tour has been a path to Europe, but we are hoping with new tournaments and more sponsors and with bigger prizemoney, our top players will stay and play in Asia rather than having to go to Europe.”
The International Series Korea was the fourth International Series event of the season so far on the Asian Tour.
