NEWS

European Tour chief concerned about unrest in Gulf, competing Asian tours

By Associated Press
Published on
European Tour chief concerned about unrest in Gulf, competing Asian tours

European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady says organizers will wait several months before deciding whether to hold the Volvo Golf Champions tournament for a second year in Bahrain.

Authorities in Bahrain have cracked down heavily on dissent since anti-government protests began Feb. 14. The unrest has left 30 people dead, including four opposition supporters who died in custody, and forced Formula 1’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix to be called off.

Bahrain is due to host the first tournament of 2012. In an interview with the Associated Press, O’Grady said Monday that this year’s inaugural event, held in late January, was problem-free and deemed a success.

“Bahrain is being monitored all the time,” he said.

O’Grady also expressed disappointment that Asia now has two competing tours, and called on them to work together to “avoid confusion in the marketplace.”

The upstart OneAsia Tour should be a series of events within the Asian Tour, he said. Noting that Europe and the United States each has a sole tour, he said it is “logical” for there to be only one in Asia.

The OneAsia Tour launched last year as a joint venture between the Australian PGA and some governing bodies in Asia, including China and South Korea. It has met opposition from the Asian Tour and some South Korean players upset that it has taken over previously locals-only events.