By IANS
New Delhi : The European Tour's decision to host its inaugural tournament in India – the Indian Masters next year – has miffed the Asian Tour, the sanctioning body of the sport in the continent.
"The Asian Tour is appalled with the European Tour's plans to stage a tournament in India without the sanction of the Asian Tour next February. This move is clearly unethical and against the protocol that exists within the framework of the International Federation of PGA Tours, of which both the Tours are full members," Kyi Hla Han, executive chairman of the Asian Tour, said in a statement Monday.
Han said that despite media reports and quotes attributed to the European Tour, there has been no approach or communication to inform the Asian Tour about the event.
"Since the Asian Tour became a member of the International Federation of Professional Golfers Association Tours, all new events that the European Tour has been involved within Asia have been co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour," he said.
He also went on to add that over the past decade, the Asian Tour has provided a strong platform for the success of India's current crop of top players and the Asian Tour is fully committed to the growth of golf in India and Asia.
"The Asian Tour fully respects and cooperates with the Indian Golf Union and was happy to step in to ensure the continuance of one of Asia's longest standing national opens – the Hero Honda Indian Open – in 2005 when support was required," said Han.
"However, with the latest developments, the Asian Tour disagrees with the unethical actions of the European Tour which has avoided contact with the Asian Tour whilst announcing this new event in India," he said.
Indian golf is set to take a giant leap by hosting its first ever European Tour sanctioned event next year when the inaugural $2.5 million Indian Masters tees off here Feb 7-10.