India’s Jeev Milkha Singh has urged the region’s golf chiefs to end their row over the formation of an Asian-Pacific “super series” and work together to promote Asian golf.
The Asian Tour has accused the professional tours of Australia, China and South Korea of trying to muscle in on its turf after the PGA of Australia made the announcement last month.
The super series is proposed to be launched this year with six events. There are plans to extend it in 2010.
“I just feel we should promote the game globally,” the 2008 Asian Tour order of merit winner said.
“It should be good for the region. Even if they have differences, they should start a dialogue and try to join hands to make the game big because Asia is a big market.
“Let us try to make this game big in Asia … instead of trying to make statements at each other and not making the game big in the region,” he told reporters at a function.
Singh said having three separate tours—Asian, Japanese and the Australasian series—in the region made it tough.
“It is a lot of work because Japan is a different tour and different from the Asian Tour. Lot of things like how the players get ranked will have to be worked out.
“You will have to find a procedure, the order of merit or a way of handling exemptions.”
The 37-year-old won four titles across the European, Asian and Japanese Tours in 2008. He was tied for ninth at the U.S. PGA Championship before ending 12th on the European order of merit.
Singh, who was tied 16th at last week’s Dubai Desert Classic, wants to claim a maiden win on the U.S. PGA Tour this year. He is currently 34th in world rankings.
“I’m happy, I’m moving in the right direction,” he said at a function by Rolex announcing a $1 million five-year deal to help develop promising Indian golfers.
Singh has taken up hill-walking to improve fitness and plans to trim his playing schedule following an injury-hit 2008.
“All tournaments are going to be in the U.S. till the Augusta Masters,” he said, referring to the year’s first major in April.
“I have won everywhere else, so now I want to do it in the U.S. That is what my goal is going to be this year.”
