Asian Tour offers bumper prize purse for 2008

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Next year will be the richest yet on the Asian Tour with six events boosting their prize money and 11 tournaments offering purses of over $1 million, the Tour announced on Monday.

The world's fastest-growing golf circuit will visit 16 countries in 2008 and will offer at least $3 million more than this year, reflecting the increased investment and huge popularity of the game in Asia.

The provisional total prize fund stands at over $27 million, more than double the purse for the Tour's inaugural season in 2004, with more events to be added in the coming weeks, executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said.

"Many of our events will raise their prize funds to record figures and this clearly signifies the growing strength of the game across the region and the support from corporate Asia," Kyi Hla Han said in a statement.

"Negotiations are also in the final stages for a number of other events to be added to the schedule."

The Pine Valley Beijing Open and the Johor Open, which made their debuts on the Tour this year, have more than doubled their prize pots to $1 million each and the Malaysian Open now offers a record $2 million.

The flagship Singapore Open, which attracts some of the top players from across the world, has increased its prize fund from $4 million to $5 million and the China Classic and Macau Open events have upped their offerings by 20 and 40 percent respectively.

Vietnam and Taiwan will hold Asian Tour events for the first time, while nine tournaments will be held in Chinese territories, reflecting the recent golf boom in the world's most populous country.

Seven events will be co-sanctioned with the European Tour with the tri-sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic scheduled to make its debut in India, where golf is now the country's fastest-growing sport.

The Tour starts with the International on Jan. 24, for which the venue and prize money is yet to be decided.

2008 ASIAN TOUR SCHEDULE

* Co-sanctioned with European Tour

# Tri-sanctioned with Australasian Tour and European Tour

Special Event

Jan. 24-27: Asian Tour International, Venue & Country TBC, $300,000.

Jan. 31-Feb. 3: Pakistan Open, Karachi GC, Karachi, $300,000

Feb. 14-17: Singapore Masters*, Laguna National GCC, Singapore, $1.1 million.

Feb. 21-24: Indonesian Open*, Venue TBA, Jakarta, US$1 million.

Feb. 28-March 2: Johnnie Walker Classic#, DLF GC, New Delhi, $2.5 million.

March 6-9: Malaysian Open*, Kota Permai GCC, Kuala Lumpur, $2 million.

March 13-16: Philippine Open, Wack Wack GCC, Manila, $300,000.

March 27-30: The Open Championship International Final Qualifying (Asia), Sentosa GC, Singapore.

April 17-20: China Open*, Beijing CBD International GC, Beijing, $2 million.

April 24-27: Asian Open*, Tomson Shanghai Pudong GC, Shanghai, $2.3 million.

May 1-4: Maekyung Open, Nam Seoul GC, Seoul, $600,000.

May 8-11: Pine Valley Beijing Open, Pine Valley GC, Beijing, $1 million.

May 22-25: SK Telecom Open, Venue TBA, Seoul, $600,000.

June 5-8: Bangkok Airways Open, Santiburi Samui GC, Samui, $300,000.

Aug. 21-24: Indonesia President Invitational, Venue TBC, $350,000.

Aug. 28-31: Brunei Open, Empire Hotel and CC, Bandar Seri Begawan, $300,000.

Sept. 18-21: Taiwan Masters, Taiwan GCC, Taipei $500,000.

Sept. 25-28: Korea Open, Venue TBA, Seoul, $1 million.

Oct. 2-5: Fortis International Challenge, Venue TBA.

Oct. 9-12: Indian Open, Delhi GC, New Delhi, $500,000.

Oct. 16-19: China Classic, Royal Orchid International GC, Guangzhou, $500,000.

Oct. 23-26: Macau Open, Macau GCC, Macau, $500,000.

Oct. 30- Nov 2: Johor Open, Royal Johor CC, Johor Bahru, $1 million.

Nov. 6-9: Singapore Open, Sentosa GC, Singapore, $5 million.

Nov. 13-16: HSBC Champions (s), Sheshan International GC, Shanghai, $5 million.

Nov. 20-23: Hong Kong Open*, Hong Kong GC, Hong Kong, $2.25 million.

Nov. 27-30: Mission Hills World Cup, Mission Hills GC, Shenzhen, $5 million.

Dec. 4-7: Vietnam Masters, Hanoi Phoenix Golf Resort, Hanoi, $500,000.

Dec. 11-14: Cambodian Open, Phokeethra CC, Siem Reap, $300,000

Dec. 18-21: Volvo Masters of Asia, Thai Country Club, Bangkok, $750,000.