View source for Asian Tour

{{about|the professional golf tour that started in 1995|the tour that ran from 1962 until 1999|Asia Golf Circuit}}
{{short description|Professional golf tour}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox Sports league
| title           = Asian Tour
| current_season  = 2025 Asian Tour
| logo            = Asian Tour logo.svg
| pixels          = 270px
| caption         = 
| Formerly        = Asian PGA Tour<br>Omega Tour<br>Davidoff Tour
| sport           = Golf
| founded         = 1994
| fame            = 
| motto           = 
| inaugural       = 1995
| teams           = 
| countries       = Based in Asia{{efn|Schedules have also included events in Australia, Egypt, England, Fiji, Mauritius, Morocco, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Switzerland.}}
| venue           = 
| champion        = 
| most_champs     = {{nowrap|'''Order of Merit titles''':<br>{{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] (3)<br>'''Tournament wins''':<br>{{flagicon|THA}} [[Thaworn Wiratchant]] (18)}}
| qualification   = 
| folded          = 
| website         = http://www.asiantour.com/
| singles         = 
| ceo             = Cho Minn Thant
| director        = Jimmy Masrin
| TV              = 
| related_comps   = [[Asian Development Tour]]
| founder         = 
}}
The '''Asian Tour''' is the principal men's professional [[golf]] [[professional golf tours|tour]] in Asia except for Japan (which has its own [[Japan Golf Tour]]). It is also a full member of the [[International Federation of PGA Tours]]. Official money events on the tour count for [[Official World Golf Ranking]] points.

The Asian Tour is administered from Singapore. It is controlled by a board with a majority of professional golfers, and a Tournament Players Committee of its player members, supported by an executive team. The chairman of the board is the Indonesian businessman Jimmy Masrin.

==History==
The Asian PGA was formed in July 1994 at a meeting in Hong Kong attended by PGA representatives from eight countries. The first season of the APGA '''Omega Tour''', as it was known for sponsorship reasons, was played in 1995 and within a few years it had supplanted the existing tour in the region, the [[Asia Golf Circuit]] that was run by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, as the leading golf tour in Asia outside of Japan. In 1998 the Asian Tour became the sixth member of the [[International Federation of PGA Tours]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/248330/asian-pga-welcomed-world-club |title=Asian PGA welcomed into world club |website=South China Morning Post |first=Spencer |last=Robinson |date=16 July 1998 |access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref> Under a new sponsorship deal, between 1999 and 2003 the tour was known as the '''Davidoff Tour''', before adopting its current name in 2004.

In 2002, the tour moved its office from Hong Kong to Malaysia and in 2004 the tour was taken over by a new organisation established by the players, who had been in dispute with the previous management. In 2007 it moved to new headquarters on the resort island of [[Sentosa]] in Singapore,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.asiantour.com/story.htm?id=2662 |title=Asian Tour Moves to New Home on Sentosa |publisher=Asian Tour |date=14 August 2007}}</ref> which is also the home to what was at that time the tour's richest sole sanctioned tournament, the [[Singapore Open (golf)|Singapore Open]].

In 2009 a rival tour, the [[OneAsia Tour]], was established. Relations between the two tours are hostile.

In 2010, the Asian Tour launched the [[Asian Development Tour]] (ADT) as a developmental circuit. Five events were played the first year. By 2015 the tour had expanded to holding 28 tournaments with US$2.2 million of prize money.

With [[LIV Golf]]'s initial investment in the Asian Tour having been reported in late 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/oct/29/greg-norman-to-head-up-new-200m-saudi-backed-series-on-asian-tour |title=Greg Norman to head up new $200m Saudi-backed series on Asian Tour |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 October 2021 |access-date=12 May 2023}}</ref> The 2022 season marked the introduction of the [[International Series (golf)|International Series]], which was unveiled in February. The series was to consist of 10 events to be added to Asian Tour schedules over the following 10 years, with each event featuring prize funds between {{currency|1,500,000|USD}} and $2,000,000. The investment being primarily backed by LIV Golf.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://asiantour.com/the-international-series-unveiled |title=The International Series unveiled |publisher=Asian Tour |date=1 February 2022 |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref>

==Players==
Most of the leading players on the tour are Asian, but players from other parts of the world also participate (as of 2007 the country with most representatives profiled on the tour's official site is Australia).

In 2006 the Asian Tour became the most prestigious men's tour on which a woman has made the half-way cut in recent times when [[Michelle Wie]] did so at the [[SK Telecom Open]] in South Korea.

Among the ways to obtain an Asian Tour card is to be among the top 35 (including ties) at the Tour's qualifying school, finishing in the top 5 of the [[Asian Development Tour]] Order of Merit, and placing in the top 60 of the previous season's Order of Merit. The winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit also receives entry into [[The Open Championship]].

==Tournaments and prize money==
{{see also|2024 Asian Tour}}

Each year the Asian Tour co-sanctions a number of events with the [[European Tour]], with these events offering higher prize funds than most of the other tournaments on the tour as a result. While most of these tournaments have been in Asia, the [[Omega European Masters]] in Switzerland has been co-sanctioned from 2009 to 2017. In addition, the two tours sometimes tri-sanction events with the [[Sunshine Tour]] or [[PGA Tour of Australasia]] in those tours' respective regions. The Asian Tour also co-sanctions tournaments with the [[Japan Golf Tour]].

Since 2008, 50 percent of players' earnings from the [[U.S. Open (golf)|US Open]] and [[The Open Championship]] have counted towards the Asian Tour's Order of Merit. The two Opens were singled out from the other majors because they have open qualifying which Asian Tour members may enter.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.asiantour.com/story.htm;jsessionid=272AE8266BB31849A484EFD55BB83D03?id=3391 |title=Major Incentive for Tour Stars |publisher=Asian Tour |date=12 February 2008 |access-date=12 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527111341/http://www.asiantour.com/story.htm;jsessionid=272AE8266BB31849A484EFD55BB83D03?id=3391 |archive-date=27 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Formerly Asia's richest event, the [[HSBC Champions]], was first played in November 2005 with a prize fund of $5&nbsp;million. The tournament was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the earnings were counted towards the money list for its first three years before it became a [[World Golf Championships]] event in 2009.

Another limited-field event in Malaysia; the [[CIMB Classic]], was launched in 2010 with a $6&nbsp;million purse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asiantour.com/news.aspx?sid=20100518261377406716 |title=Stars set for CIMB date |publisher=Asian Tour |date=18 May 2010 |access-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101203511/http://www.asiantour.com/news.aspx?sid=20100518261377406716 |archive-date=1 November 2010}}</ref> The first Asian Tour event to be co-sanctioned by the U.S.-based [[PGA Tour]] began as an unofficial event on that tour, but it started to offer official money and [[FedEx Cup]] points in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2012/10/30/sports/12243552&sec=sports |title=Watney: Bringing Woods was a good move |work=The Star Online |author=Lim Teik Huat |date=30 October 2012 |access-date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101113551/http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2012/10/30/sports/12243552&sec=sports |archive-date=1 November 2012}}</ref>

In 2016, the tour's richest sole-sanctioned event was the [[Venetian Macao Open]], with a prize fund of $1.1&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://vietnamgolfmagazine.net/en/this-weeks-event-of-asian-tour-venetian-macao-open-2016 |title=This week's event of Asian Tour: Venetian Macao Open 2016 |magazine=Vietnam Golf Magazine |date=12 October 2016 |access-date=9 December 2024}}</ref>

In 2022, the [[Saudi International (golf)|Saudi International]] became the tour's flagship event and as a result became its richest sole-sanctioned event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://secure.golfchannel.com/news/greg-norman-officially-announced-head-saudi-backed-competing-tour |title=Greg Norman officially announced as head of Saudi-backed golf series |work=Golf Channel |date=29 October 2021 |access-date=1 November 2021 |archive-date=1 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101145306/http://secure.golfchannel.com/news/greg-norman-officially-announced-head-saudi-backed-competing-tour |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Order of Merit winners==
{| class="wikitable"
!Season!!Winner!!Points
|-
| align=center|[[2024 Asian Tour|2024]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Catlin (golfer)|John Catlin]] || align=center|3,130
|-
| align=center|[[2023 Asian Tour|2023]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Andy Ogletree]] || align=center|2,129
|-
!Season!!Winner!!Prize money ([[United States dollar|US$]])
|-
| align=center|[[2022 Asian Tour|2022]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Sihwan Kim]] || align=center|627,458
|-
| align=center|[[2020–21–22 Asian Tour|2020–21–22]] || {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Tom Kim]] || align=center|507,553
|-
| align=center|[[2019 Asian Tour|2019]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Jazz Janewattananond]] || align=center|1,058,524
|-
| align=center|[[2018 Asian Tour|2018]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Shubhankar Sharma]] || align=center|755,994
|-
| align=center|[[2017 Asian Tour|2017]] || {{flagicon|MYS}} [[Gavin Green]] || align=center|585,813
|-
| align=center|[[2016 Asian Tour|2016]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Scott Hend]] || align=center|1,004,792
|-
| align=center|[[2015 Asian Tour|2015]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Anirban Lahiri]] || align=center|1,139,084
|-
| align=center|[[2014 Asian Tour|2014]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[David Lipsky (golfer)|David Lipsky]] || align=center|713,901
|-
| align=center|[[2013 Asian Tour|2013]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Kiradech Aphibarnrat]] || align=center|1,127,855
|-
| align=center|[[2012 Asian Tour|2012]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thaworn Wiratchant]] (2) || align=center|738,047
|-
| align=center|[[2011 Asian Tour|2011]] || {{flagicon|PHI}} [[Juvic Pagunsan]] || align=center|788,299
|-
| align=center|[[2010 Asian Tour|2010]] || {{flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Noh Seung-yul]] || align=center|822,361
|-
| align=center|[[2009 Asian Tour|2009]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] (3) || align=center|981,932
|-
| align=center|[[2008 Asian Tour|2008]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jeev Milkha Singh]] (2) || align=center|1,452,702
|-
| align=center|[[2007 Asian Tour|2007]] || {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Liang Wenchong]] || align=center|532,590
|-
| align=center|[[2006 Asian Tour|2006]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jeev Milkha Singh]] || align=center|591,884
|-
| align=center|[[2005 Asian Tour|2005]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thaworn Wiratchant]] || align=center|510,122
|-
| align=center|[[2004 Asian Tour|2004]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] (2) || align=center|381,930
|-
| align=center|[[2003 Asian PGA Tour|2003]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Arjun Atwal]] || align=center|284,018 
|-
| align=center|[[2002 Asian PGA Tour|2002]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jyoti Randhawa]] || align=center|266,263 
|-
| align=center|[[2001 Asian PGA Tour|2001]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] || align=center|353,060
|-
| align=center|[[2000 Asian PGA Tour|2000]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Simon Dyson]] || align=center|282,370
|-
| align=center|[[1999 Asian PGA Tour|1999]] || {{flagicon|MYA|1974}} [[Kyi Hla Han]] || align=center|204,210
|-
| align=center|[[1998 Asian PGA Tour|1998]] || {{flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Kang Wook-soon]] (2) || align=center|150,772
|-
| align=center|[[1997 Asian PGA Tour|1997]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mike Cunning]] || align=center|170,619 
|-
| align=center|[[1996 Asian PGA Tour|1996]] || {{flagicon|KOR|1984}} [[Kang Wook-soon]] || align=center|183,787
|-
| align=center|[[1995 Asian PGA Tour|1995]] || {{flagicon|TWN}} [[Lin Keng-chi]] || align=center|177,856
|}

===Multiple winners===
{|class="wikitable"
!Rank!!Player!!Wins!!Years won
|-
| align=center|1 || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] || align=center|3 || [[2001 Asian PGA Tour|2001]], [[2004 Asian Tour|2004]], [[2009 Asian Tour|2009]]
|-
| rowspan=3 align=center|T2 || {{flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Kang Wook-soon]] || rowspan=3 align=center|2 || [[1996 Asian PGA Tour|1996]], [[1998 Asian PGA Tour|1998]]
|-
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jeev Milkha Singh]] || [[2006 Asian Tour|2006]], [[2008 Asian Tour|2008]]
|-
| {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thaworn Wiratchant]] || [[2005 Asian Tour|2005]], [[2012 Asian Tour|2012]]
|}

==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
!Season!!Player of the Year!!Rookie of the Year
|-
| align=center|[[2024 Asian Tour|2024]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Catlin (golfer)|John Catlin]] (2) || {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Stefano Mazzoli]]
|-
| align=center|[[2023 Asian Tour|2023]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Andy Ogletree]] || {{flagicon|HKG}} [[Kho Taichi]]
|-
!Season!!Players' Player of the Year!!Rookie of the Year
|-
| align=center|[[2022 Asian Tour|2022]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Sihwan Kim]] || {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Bi-o]]
|-
| align=center|[[2020–21–22 Asian Tour|2020–21–22]] || colspan="2" align="center" |''No awards''
|-
| align=center|[[2019 Asian Tour|2019]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Jazz Janewattananond]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Sadom Kaewkanjana]]
|-
| align=center|[[2018 Asian Tour|2018]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[John Catlin (golfer)|John Catlin]] || {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Park Sang-hyun (golfer)|Park Sang-hyun]]
|-
| align=center|[[2017 Asian Tour|2017]] || {{flagicon|MAS}} [[Gavin Green]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Micah Lauren Shin]]
|-
| align=center|[[2016 Asian Tour|2016]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Scott Hend]] || {{flagicon|ZIM}} [[Scott Vincent (golfer)|Scott Vincent]]
|-
| align=center|[[2015 Asian Tour|2015]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Anirban Lahiri]] (2) || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Natipong Srithong]]
|-
| align=center|[[2014 Asian Tour|2014]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Anirban Lahiri]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Cameron Smith (golfer)|Cameron Smith]]
|-
| align=center|[[2013 Asian Tour|2013]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Kiradech Aphibarnrat]] || {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Richard T. Lee (golfer)|Richard T. Lee]]
|-
| align=center|[[2012 Asian Tour|2012]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thaworn Wiratchant]] (2) || {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Masanori Kobayashi]]
|-
| align=center|[[2011 Asian Tour|2011]] || {{flagicon|PHI}} [[Juvic Pagunsan]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Tjaart van der Walt]]
|-
| align=center|[[2010 Asian Tour|2010]] || {{flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Noh Seung-yul]] || {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Rikard Karlberg]]
|-
| align=center|[[2009 Asian Tour|2009]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] (3) || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Chinnaswamy Muniyappa]]
|-
| align=center|[[2008 Asian Tour|2008]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jeev Milkha Singh]] (2) || {{flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Noh Seung-yul]]
|-
| align=center|[[2007 Asian Tour|2007]] || {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Liang Wenchong]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Scott Hend]]
|-
| align=center|[[2006 Asian Tour|2006]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jeev Milkha Singh]] || {{flagicon|PHI}} [[Juvic Pagunsan]]
|-
| align=center|[[2005 Asian Tour|2005]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thaworn Wiratchant]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Shiv Kapur]]
|-
| align=center|[[2004 Asian Tour|2004]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] (2) || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Adam Groom]]
|-
| align=center|[[2003 Asian PGA Tour|2003]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Arjun Atwal]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Marcus Both]]
|-
| align=center|[[2002 Asian PGA Tour|2002]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jyoti Randhawa]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kevin Na]]
|-
| align=center|[[2001 Asian PGA Tour|2001]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] || {{flagicon|KOR|1997}} [[Ted Oh]]
|-
| align=center|[[2000 Asian PGA Tour|2000]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Simon Dyson]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Simon Dyson]]
|-
| align=center|[[1999 Asian PGA Tour|1999]] || {{flagicon|MYA|1974}} [[Kyi Hla Han]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Kenny Druce]]
|-
| align=center|[[1998 Asian PGA Tour|1998]] || {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Chris Williams (South African golfer)|Chris Williams]] || {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Ed Fryatt]]
|-
| align=center|[[1997 Asian PGA Tour|1997]] || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Prayad Marksaeng]] || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Ted Purdy]]
|-
| align=center|[[1996 Asian PGA Tour|1996]] || {{flagicon|KOR|1984}} [[Kang Wook-soon]] || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jeff Wagner (golfer)|Jeff Wagner]]
|-
| align=center|[[1995 Asian PGA Tour|1995]] || {{flagicon|TWN}} [[Lin Keng-chi]] || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Arjun Atwal]]
|}

==Leading career money winners==
The table below shows the leading money winners on the Asian Tour as of 16 October 2016. The official site has a top 100 list which also shows each player's winnings for 1995 to 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asiantour.com/stats/career-earnings/ |title=Career Earnings |publisher=Asian Tour |access-date=19 October 2016}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
!Rank !! Player !! Prize money ([[United States dollar|US$]])
|-
|align=center|1 || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thongchai Jaidee]] || align=center|5,485,537
|-
|align=center|2 || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Thaworn Wiratchant]] || align=center|4,493,844
|-
|align=center|3 || {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Scott Hend]] || align=center|3,795,696
|-
|align=center|4 || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Prayad Marksaeng]] || align=center|3,533,551
|-
|align=center|5 || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jeev Milkha Singh]] || align=center|3,487,029
|-
|align=center|6 || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Jyoti Randhawa]] || align=center|3,455,859
|-
|align=center|7 || {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Liang Wenchong]] || align=center|3,426,632
|-
|align=center|8 || {{flagicon|IND}} [[Anirban Lahiri]] || align=center|3,034,434
|-
|align=center|9 || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Prom Meesawat]] || align=center|2,776,891
|-
|align=center|10 || {{flagicon|THA}} [[Chapchai Nirat]] || align=center|2,664,047
|}

==See also==
*[[Asian Development Tour]]
*[[Ladies Asian Golf Tour]]
*[[List of golfers with most Asian Tour wins]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official site|http://www.asiantour.com}}

{{Asian Tour Events}}
{{Asian Tour seasons}}
{{Men's Professional Golf Tours}}

[[Category:Asian Tour| ]]
[[Category:Professional golf tours]]
[[Category:Golf in Asia]]
[[Category:Sports organisations of Singapore]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Hong Kong]]