The Asian Tour has more potential for growth than any other tour in the world, according to some of the world’s most successful stars who have seen big improvements in recent years.
Lee Westwood, Michael Campbell and Vijay Singh have all been regular visitors to Asia over the past decade and they are impressed with what has been happening.
”You only have to look at the improvement of Asian players around the world,” said Westwood, one of Europe’s most successful golfers, who plays several Asian Tour events every year.
”I mean Jeev Milka Singh is top 50 in the world, Thongchai Jaidee and Zhang Lianwei have always played well overseas, KJ Choi has always been fantastic on the US Tour.
”It shows you that there are a lot of good golfers in Asia. It is a good breeding ground for talent and there is no reason why the Asian Tour can’t go from strength to strength.
”A lot of golfers here get confidence from seeing other Asian players go abroad and perform very well.
”I’d say of all the tours there is more potential for growth here than anywhere else.”
Golf in the region is flourishing, with the Asian Tour getting bigger as it co-sanctions more events with the European Tour, and the region’s players have responded with eye-catching performances on the international front.
New Zealand’s Campbell, who began his career in Asia before finding success in the United States, echoed Westwood’s comments, and pointed to more top names playing in the region as a key factor in the game’s improvement here.
”There’s been a huge improvement in Asian Tour players in the past 10 years,” he said ahead of the Barclays Singapore Open.
”One of the factors is that a lot more top golfers are coming over here to play and as a player you have to play with the best to improve.
”That is why we have seen more success from Asian players. The tournaments they play in are becoming stronger and so are the players.”
Like Campbell, Fijian star Singh kickstarted his career in Asia and has followed developments in the region while cementing his position as one of the world’s greats in the US.
The three-time Major winner, back in Singapore for the first time since 2001, said he had been highly impressed with Asian golf’s ”giant steps”.
”The depth of the game in Asia has definitely improved as compared to before,” he said.
”We have been seeing quite a few good young Asians coming through, but we need to see more.”
While world number two Phil Mickelson is making his first foray into Asia at the Singapore Open, he has been watching Asian players in the US and tipped Korea’s KJ Choi to be the first to make the breakthrough at a Major.
”I don’t think Asians are far away from winning a Major,” he said.
”I say that mostly because of KJ Choi. He is such a solid golfer and has a great overall game. I expect him to break through fairly soon.”
Asked what Asians need to do to succeed in the US, he said they must learn to adapt to the different grasses used on the US Tour.
”The biggest challenge Asian players will have playing the US Tour is adapting to the different grasses that we play throughout the US, and the speed of the greens,” he said.
”We have a variety of grasses where the ball reacts differently when you chip, on the short game and on fairway shots. That’s the biggest thing to adjust to.” — Sapa-AFP