‘Saudi golf investment not a Norman conquest’
Greg Norman and his billionaire Saudi backers are not taking over the Asian Tour, insists the circuit's chief, after the Australian great's new company pledged $200 million to create 10 new tournaments.
Nor is the former world number one launching a breakaway "super league" via his plunge into the Asian Tour that shook the golf world, tour commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant told AFP.
Norman last month revealed he was the CEO of newly formed LIV Golf Investments, a Saudi sovereign wealth fund-backed company committing $200 million to 10 new global events on the Asian Tour schedule over the next decade.
Scant on detail, the announcement was interpreted by some as the first move in establishing Norman's oft-touted "super league" that could split men's professional golf and threaten the dominance of the US PGA Tour.
Such speculation is wide of the mark, Cho said, while acknowledging that Norman has ambitions to create a superstar golf circuit separate to the main tours.
"I think there's been a misconception that LIV Golf has taken over the Asian Tour and we are going to get the 'LIV Golf Tour' or the 'Saudi Tour', which is incorrect," said Cho, speaking by video link from Jupiter, Florida, where two-time major winner Norman is based.
"They are a promoter who are adding 10 events to our tournament schedule. Our structure remains the same," assured Cho, who is finalising details on a 25-event Asian Tour 2022 calendar.
It will begin with the $5 million Saudi International on February 3-6.
That is not part of the new Norman-funded 10-event series but is expected to attract stars such as Dustin Johnson, who won in 2019 and 2021, when the tournament was sanctioned by the European Tour.
The 10 new events, likely to kick off in the Middle East and Europe, will join long-standing Asian tournaments such as the Hong Kong Open and Maybank Championship in Malaysia.
To take part, players such as Johnson will need a release from the US PGA Tour, which a year ago formed a "strategic alliance" with the European Tour to counter the threat of any breakaway circuit.
"Obviously, before, they were almost assured of being released," said Cho.
"But now I guess it's a little bit harder... just because the PGA and European Tours may feel that we're somewhat more competitive."
Cho's focus now is on rekindling the Asian Tour, on hold since March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The interrupted 2020-21 season resumes later this month after a 20-month absence with two $1 million tournaments in Thailand and will conclude with two more in Singapore in January, ahead of the new season launch in February.
Cho revealed the new Norman-backed events will be full-field with "70 to 80 Asian Tour members" with slots available to the top 200 in the world, plus others including elite amateurs.
"To have 10 tournaments with prize money above $1 million each has basically never before been seen on the Asian Tour," said Cho.
"It's very likely to be the Asian Tour's most lucrative season."
The majority shareholder in LIV Golf Investments is the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds and behind the takeover of Premier League football club Newcastle United.
It has brought accusations of Saudi "sportswashing" of the Gulf kingdom's human rights record.
"I think the political agenda is never going to be far from the conversation," said Cho.
"We're open to having the conversation.
"And our response is basically that we're very fortunate that they are interested in golf and it's good for the game of golf," said Cho, who noted that PIF has also invested in the likes of Uber.
Cho acknowledged that Norman and his Saudi backers harbour ambitions to start a "super league", in which the game's stars could compete for guaranteed payouts in individual and team events.
"Sure, it's certainly one of their ambitions to start a league," admitted Cho.
"If the best players in the world decide that it's something that they want to be part of, there's no reason why the Asian Tour shouldn't be part of it," he said.
"But let's face it, the PGA Tour is still the pinnacle tour that everyone wants to play, and it always will be."
-
The Weird, Wonderful World of Water Towers施工马虎不达标 验收不过重返工黄金周自驾雅西 以下几点要看清岁月陈皮茶业:稳固品质,延伸陈皮全产业链Trump trials: Jack Smith is reportedly reconsidering his strategy.讲工作表决心 用行动促发展全国首创!首个中国种猪精液拍卖活动将亮相第五十届养猪产业大会(广州)!精液市场规模可达100亿元!“内忧外患” 雅安汽车租赁举步维艰I went to an offline dating event for singles. Here's how it went.公共电话亭一个或将消失的城市符号
- ·24 of the Oldest Trees in the World
- ·“中国最美风景县” 我市宝兴县暂列西南第五
- ·8月31日下午2点 雅安首届建材团购砍价会开“砍”!
- ·克服重重困难 新华文轩全力确保“课前到书”
- ·Keurig K Mini deal — get $30 off at Target
- ·抓好旅游安全和服务为游客编织安全网
- ·牧原要消灭成本8元/斤以上的猪场?留给高成本猪场的时间确实不多了
- ·全省唯一!韶关南雄喜添“国家重要湿地”生态名片
- ·Best CPU Deals, AMD vs Intel: Holiday CPU Buying Guide
- ·“中国最美风景县” 我市宝兴县暂列西南第五
- ·公共电话亭一个或将消失的城市符号
- ·金秋时节 水稻正收割大蒜下种忙
- ·Apple Watch bands: 5 favorites to consider as Apple Watch 10 looms
- ·市第三届老年人运动会健身气功比赛在宝兴举行
- ·大熊猫赴新加坡的“前世今生”
- ·雅化集团行政二支部被授予“四川省创先争优先进基层党组织”称号
- ·Yoon approves labor minister's appointment
- ·宝兴开展“城管文明劝导”活动
- ·全力保供电 避免客户损失上百万
- ·山雅茶业 新包装系列化上市三部曲
- ·高燃!哨响表停赛不止,2024广东“村BA”开赛在即,一分钟带你重温高光瞬间。
- ·皇茗园茶业 茶界中的全能型选手
- ·宝兴开展“城管文明劝导”活动
- ·机关单位工作人员应主动投身文明城市创建
- ·Sports minister says audits into football, badminton federations set to conclude in Sept.
- ·安装行政效能电子监察系统 打造阳光政务