Retief Goosen and Ernie Els on Wednesday forecast a big future for golf in Asia, with more top players and leading events coming to the region and a champion waiting in the wings.
The two players are in Phuket for the Johnnie Walker Classic this week. World number six Goosen, who has been playing consistent golf around the world for more than a decade, said many golfers now preferred coming to Asia than going to the United States.
”I feel that the way the economy is going over here [Asia], and especially in China and those places, I think we’re going to see more and more events pop up in this part of the world,” the South African said.
”I like playing over here. I enjoy the people, I enjoy the golf courses, so it’s always an area that I enjoy coming to, and I feel that it won’t be long before we’re going to play quite a few more events in this part of the world.
”Obviously we can’t play in Europe this time of year but a lot of the players sort of enjoy coming and playing out here more now than maybe playing in the States.”
Golf in the region is flourishing, with the Asian Tour getting bigger as it co-sanctions more events with the European Tour, and Goosen said the huge prize money now on offer was a big carrot to the top stars.
”You know, the events over here, it’s getting stronger and stronger fields. So world-ranking wise, it definitely appeals to a lot more of the top players to come and play and there’s a lot of prize money,” he said.
”You see how big the prize money they have in China — at the HSBC tournament there, there’s big prize money.
”So I feel that the guys will definitely come and play more over here now. The weather is good, the courses are good.”
The HSBC in Shanghai in November offers $5-million in prize money while the Singapore Open this year is offering $4-million.
World number five Els, also a regular visitor to Asia, said it was not just the courses and prize money that were attractive but also the improving standards of Asian golfers, whom he tipped for a major breakthrough soon.
”Well, I think what the European Tour has done has really helped the Asian Tour, to co-sanction events, to have the Asian players play against stronger fields, and I think the Asian players have really caught up really well,” he said.
He added: ”It’s just a matter of time before they have a real champion.”
Goosen won the Johnnie Walker Classic in 2002 and Els won in 1997 and 2003. The winner takes home more than $400 000.
Goosen said he and Els, who is also South African, had long been global golfers who enjoyed supporting tours around the world.
”I feel me and Ernie are sort of on the same track in the way that we enjoy supporting the tours all the way around the world,” he said.
”We play in so many different continents and we just don’t want to base ourselves full-time in America. It’s good to play a variety of golf courses and see a variety of different people.” – Sapa-AFP