OneAsia Tour's Pine Valley Beijing Open Canceled


The second event on the controversial new OneAsia Tour, the Pine Valley Beijing Open, has been scratched. The event, slated for May 7-10, had previously been co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Tour but for the first time this year had become part of OneAsia Tour's "super series."

The move infuriated the Asian and Japan Tours, which planned a boycott. In a letter to Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han, the Pine Valley Beijing Open Tournament Committee said it was being called off because it clashed with the Players' Championship in the United States. However, people close to the matter told media outlet AFP that it wanted to retain the status quo with the Asian and Japan Tours.

"In 2009, we have been working hard to prepare for this event again and together with the Asian Tour, we share your vision of promoting and developing golf not only in China, but also, the rest of Asia," said the letter. "We are confident that under the guidance of the Asian Tour, the Pine Valley Beijing Open will become one of the most important and prestigious events in China.

"However, due to the clash of dates of the Players' Championship in the U.S. . . . we feel that we will not be able to have the resources and commitment of both the players and media where attention will be greatly divided between these two events. Therefore, in order to ensure the quality and prestige of the event, the Tournament Committee regrets to inform that the Pine Valley Beijing Open will be postponed until a later date."

Han, who went to China last week with Japan Tour officials, told AFP on April 3 that OneAsia's launch had created "untenable situations which are causing sponsors and promoters to rethink their positions."

OneAsia, formed by the China Golf Association, Korea Professional Golf Tour, Korea Golf Association and the PGA Tour of Australia, wants to create a new force in world golf. It launches its now five-tournament schedule at the Volvo China Open this month.

The above story originally appeared in AFP.

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