2012 ASIAN TOUR SCHEDULE

With the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School having attracted a massive turnout of 579 golfers from all over the world to Thailand two weeks ago, Han said it was another strong endorsement towards the Asian Tour’s mission to grow professional golf across the region.

“As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, we will continue to create vast playing opportunities for players from all around the world.  The magnificent turnout of golfers at our Qualifying School is a testament to our growth and appeal as a major international and recognised Tour,” said Han.

The Zaykabar Myanmar Open presented by Air Bagan will launch the 2012 season on Thursday after making a welcome return following a one-year lapse while a new tournament, the HANDA FALDO CAMBODIAN CLASSIC, will make its debut in March.

Four tournaments, the Panasonic Open India, Indonesian Masters presented by PNTS, CJ Invitational Hosted by K.J. Choi and Thailand Golf Championship, will continue to feature significantly in 2012 after making successful debuts last season.

The Asian Tour, which is a members’ organization and has a cosmopolitan membership consisting of players from 30 different nationalities and led by reigning Order of Merit champion Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines, will visit the Philippines, India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Macau, China and Hong Kong this season.

Han added: “With Corporate Asia’s continued backing and the support of a diversified group of tournament promoters, we will continue to provide world-class golf tournaments across Asia and beyond our borders. It will be another exciting year for us as we steam ahead with our tournaments.”

The second half of the season will see the major and lucrative events being staged, including the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, sanctioned with the Japan Golf Tour, Barclays Singapore Open, Hong Kong Open, WGC-HSBC Champions in China, CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia, Thailand Golf Championship and Omega European Masters.

Han said organisers of the Macau Open and Hero Indian Open will announce the dates of their events in due course.

2012 ASIAN TOUR SCHEDULE

JAN 11-14: QUALIFYING SCHOOL FIRST STAGE, IMPERIAL LAKEVIEW GC, SPRINGFIELD ROYAL CC, BANYAN GC AND MAJESTIC CREEK GR, HUA HIN, THAILAND.

JAN 18-21: QUALIFYING SCHOOL FINAL STAGE PRESENTED BY SPORTS AUTHORITY OF THAILAND, SPRINGFIELD ROYAL CC AND IMPERIAL LAKEVIEW, HUA HIN, THAILAND.

FEB 2-5: ZAYKABAR MYANMAR OPEN PRESENTED BY AIR BAGAN, ROYAL MINGALARDON GCC, YANGON, US$300,000.

FEB 9-12: ICTSI PHILIPPINE OPEN, WACK WACK GCC, MANILA, US$300,000.

FEB 16-19: AVANTHA MASTERS, DLF GCC, GURGAON, INDIA, €1.8 MILLION (APPROX. US$2.4 MILLION).

FEB 22-25: SAIL OPEN, DELHI GC, NEW DELHI, INDIA, US$300,000

MAR 1-2: THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP INTERNATIONAL FINAL QUALIFYING – ASIA, AMATA SPRING CC, CHONBURI, THAILAND

MAR 14-17: HANDA FALDO CAMBODIAN CLASSIC, VENUE TBA, US$300,000.

MAR 29-APR 1: PANASONIC OPEN INDIA, DELHI GC,  NEW DELHI, US$300,000.

APR 5-8: ISPS HANDA SINGAPORE CLASSIC, ORCHID CC, US$400,000

APR 12-15: MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN, KUALA LUMPUR GCC, US$2.5 MILLION.

APR 19-22: INDONESIAN MASTERS PRESENTED BY PNTS, ROYALE JAKARTA GC, US$750,000.

APR 26-29: BALLANTINE’S CHAMPIONSHIP, BLACKSTONE RESORT, SEOUL, KOREA, €2.2 MILLION (APPROX. US$2.9 MILLION).

JUNE 14-17: QUEEN’S CUP, SANTIBURI SAMUI CC, SAMUI, THAILAND, US$300,000

AUG 30-SEPT 2: OMEGA EUROPEAN MASTERS, CRAN-SUR-SIERRE GC, SWITZERLAND, €2 MILLION (APPROX US$2.6 MILLION)

SEPT 5-8: WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS SELANGOR MASTERS, KOTA PERMAI GCC, SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA, RM1.2 MILLION (APPROX US$395,000)

SEPT 13-16: YEANGDER TOURNAMENT PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP, LINKOU INTERNATIONAL GCC, TAIPEI, CHINESE TAIPEI, US$300,000

SEPT 20-23: ASIA-PACIFIC PANASONIC OPEN, HIGASHI HIRONO GC, HYOGO, JAPAN, ?150 MILLION (APPROX US$1.9 MILLION)

OCT 4-7: CJ INVITATIONAL HOSTED BY K.J. CHOI, HAESLEY NINE BRIDGES GC, SEOUL, KOREA, US$750,000

OCT 25-28: CIMB ASIA PACIFIC CLASSIC, MALAYSIA, MINES RESORT AND GC, KUALA LUMPUR, US$6.1 MILLION

NOV 1-4: WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS, VENUE TBA, US$7 MILLION

NOV 1-4: MERCURIES TAIWAN MASTERS, TAIWAN GCC, US$600,000

NOV 8-11: BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN, SENTOSA GC, US$6 MILLION

NOV 15-18: HONG KONG OPEN, HONG KONG GC, US$2.75 MILLION

NOV 22-25: KING’S CUP, VENUE TBA, THAILAND, US$300,000

DEC 6-9: THAILAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP, AMATA SPRING CC, US$1 MILLION

DEC 13-16: EVENT TO BE ANNOUNCED

EVENTS WITH DATES TO BE CONFIRMED:

MACAU OPEN, MACAU GCC, US$750,000

HERO INDIAN OPEN, DELHI GC, US$1.25 MILLION

2012 ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR SCHEDULE

MARCH 8-11: PGM CCM IMPIAN MASTERS, IMPIAN GCC, MALAYSIA, RM180,000 (APPROX US$60,000)

APRIL 4-7: PGM JOHOR CLASSIC, JOHOR CC, MALAYSIA, RM180,000 (APPROX US$60,000)

APRIL 26-29: CLEARWATER MASTERS, CLEARWATER SANCTUARY GR, MALAYSIA, US$75,000      

MAY 10-13: PGM A’FAMOSA CLASSIC, A’FAMOSA GR, MALAYSIA, RM180,000 (APPROX US$60,000)

JUNE 25-28: PGM TERENGGANU MASTERS, AWANA KIJAL GOLF BEACH AND SPA RESORT, MALAYSIA, RM220,000 (APPROX US$70,000)

JULY 5-8: TAMAN DAYU CHAMPIONSHIP, TAMAN DAYU GCR, SURABAYA, US$75,000

AUG 23-26: BALLANTINE’S TAIWAN CHAMPIONSHIP, VENUE TBA, TAIPEI, US$110,000

OCT 4-7: PGM SARAWAK CLASSIC, SARAWAK GC, MALAYSIA, RM180,000 (APPROX US$60,000)

NOV 8-11: PGM-MIDF-KLGCC MASTERS, KUALA LUMPUR GCC, RM180,000 (APPROX US$60,000)

Note: The Asian Tour reserves the right to alter the schedules at its sole discretion.

About the Asian Tour

As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), J.Lindeberg (Official Apparel Partner), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts), Cityneon (Official Event Overlay Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), BlackBerry (Official Smartphone and Tablet) and Srixon (Official Ball). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.