Asian PGA cirsuit 2002 to end with Asian Masters

Asian PGA cirsuit 2002 to end with Asian Masters

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Asian Masters, a brand new US$500,000 event, will become the season-ending tournament on the Asian PGA circuit from next year, organizers announced Friday.

The competition will replace the Malaysian Masters, currently being staged here, and will decide the winner of the Tour Order of Merit.

The inaugural winner will also be invited to play in the World Golf Championship NEC Invitational in 2003, where the winner pockets $1 million.

Malaysia will host the first tournament in December, 2002 and it will then be played at different venues around the region.

Asian PGA Executive Director Ramlan Dato Harun indicated that the competition could be a limited-field event with no halfway cut.

As it will be held in December, Harun added that Asian players competing in the United States, Europe and Japan are expected to feature.

"The Asian PGA will look into the eligibility criteria for this event to ensure its exclusivity and perhaps enable only the top-80 players to play in the Volvo Masters of Asia.

"We may also make it a tournament without a halfway cut so that players in the running for the Davidoff Tour Order of Merit crown will battle over four days to ensure a thrilling week of golf," said Harun.