Kuala Lumpur, Dec 7 (IANS) After the European and Japan Tours, it is now time for the US to recognise the power of Asian golf. In a historic move, the US PGA has signed a deal with the Asian Tour to stage a new event.
To be called the the Asia Pacific Golf Classic, the event is planned to be held at the Mines Resort & Golf Club south of Kuala Lumpur. The dates, yet to be announced, is likely to be towards the end of 2010.

The event will carry $6 million as the purse, with the winner getting $1 million.

The tournament will have a 40-man field with the top 25 players from the PGA Tour’s final FedEx Cup standings automatically qualifying for the event.

They will be joined by top 10 available players from the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. The remaining five spots will be given out as sponsor exemptions with at least one place for a Malaysian professional.

The tournament will be part of the 2010 PGA Tour late-season calendar as also on the Asian Tour.

The Asian Tour has seven co-sanctioned tournaments with the European Tour each year and one of them is held in Europe in Switzerland. The Asian Tour also has a co-sanctioned event with Japan.