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Cho Minn Thant: “It is not for us to criticize how the Saudis run their country”

“The investment of the Saudis in the LIV Golf It has been positive for us. It has had an immediate effect on our Tour, where tournaments have grown with prize pools reaching $2 million.” Cho Minn ThantCEO of Asian Tour and one of the key pieces of this contest, in an interview for THE WORLD.

The Asian Tour is the only ally that the Liv Golf, the new and controversial tour. Thus, Minn Thant points out and clarifies his relationship with Arabia: “The first strategic union came with the Saud International“, a multi-million dollar tournament that has been played for four seasons in Royal Greens.

During the first three campaigns it belonged to the European Circuit, but this year it withdrew its support due to the outbreak of the war. Thus, the event became the start and key event of the season on the Asian Tour. “Obviously, the backing comes from the same place, which is the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.. There’s no escaping that,” the CEO said.

The relationship with Arabia has been growing over time. Then came “the International Series Asian Tour“, a total of four tournaments that will be expanded in the future, where Golf Saud will invest 300 million dollars. “And now we have some involvement in the LIV Golf series“, clarified the maximum mandatory of the Asian Tour.

Sanctions to some players

Although this may be positive, his agreements with the organization have had not so good consequences. According to Cho, “we used to have a strategic alliance with the European Tour. With the PGA we did one or two tournament collaborations each year in Asia, in addition to our participation in the world golf championship“.

“I’d say all of that is pretty much on pause right now. We no longer have joint tournaments on the European Tour and, to some extent, they are trying to restrict our members from playing on the Asian Tour. Some players like Justin Harding, Wade Orsmby o Scott Hendwho have been dual members of the Asian and European tour for a long time, were not given permission to play our tournament in England. They now face disciplinary action from the DP World Tour, when they are full members of asian“says the leader.

The DP World Tour It is already starting to organize a tournament in Singapore for 2023, but it does not have the Asian Tour. Therefore, the contest goes further. “Asia is a very big market for golf. So there is a lot of interest in doing both PGA Tour and European events.“, consolidates Minn Thant.

Regarding the Singapore tournament, if the sponsor wants to do it or the tour wants to fund it, we’re not going to stand in their way.. When we went to England, we offered a collaboration agreement to Europe, which they rejected for obvious reasons, and which was not reciprocated when they came here to do their tournament. So we don’t follow the same rules of engagement“, he maintained in his statement.

More problems for the Asian Tour

It is not the only gap that the Asian Tour has received from the international organizations that regulate golf. The Royal & Ancientinstitution that organizes The Open Championship, tom a surprising decision. “Our Order of Merit winner has enjoyed the privilege of playing the Open for many years and has lost it. Fortunately, the best Asian player of the moment, Ju Young Kimmanaged to qualify for the open and be in the 150th edition in St. Andrews. Also, we have been invited to the event and we will have some meeting there with the R&A. Hopefully, the exemption is temporary and will be reinstated for the future.“, he says hopefully.

There are many obstacles, but the Asian Tour is gaining ground. Increased prize money and LIV player bans have made playing in Asia a considered option for many players. Thus, the president assures that “many of the young participants from America and Europe see that our tour is growing. They have also asked how they can be a member of our circuit. Not only because we have seats at LIV, but also because the international schedule for the Asian Tour is becoming very strong.”

It also guarantees that they will do tournaments outside their continent, for example in middle East. “We have done one in England and will be organizing more in North Africa. Many of them have contacted us, asking how they could join our events. we are at the expense of how events will unfold when we have more European and American players“. The Mexican Abraham Ancer I already expressed, in the last LIV tournament played in Portlandhis desire to participate in the Asian Tour.

“As many points as possible”

“Our plan for the future is to have 30 events on our calendar. Hopefully our players can progress to LIV tournaments or play Majors. We are working very hard on all of this.” In this line, the Asian Tour has an advantage that the LIV does not: points for the world golf ranking -the only way for players to progress and qualify for the important events-.

The CEO of the Asian Circuit has more problems on his allied front. “In the case of LIV golf, it is very important that players get as many points as possible in the world ranking. If this is not done, the ranking committee will have to study the situation and make a decision for next year. We can’t deny that Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka o Sergio Garca They are some of the best players in the world, but we think they should get ranking points to make it fair.”

“Golf is growing”

On the ethical questions that have arisen in recent months, such as accepting or not accepting the money that comes from the Saudi government, Minn Thant explains that it is “very difficult to get sponsorship. Golf is not followed as much as football, for example.” It is clear that public investment funds in Saudi Arabia follow the same pattern. Thanks to them, profits and prizes are increasing. Therefore, the concept of golf is growing.”

“I will say that we do business with many companies from different countries. We have invested a lot of money in well-known companies: Uber y Citibankfor instance. It is not for us to criticize how the Saudis run their country; and much less their companies“, concludes the CEO of the Asian Tour.

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