Asian Tour more lucrative

SINGAPORE – The Asian Tour has boosted prize money for the 2008 season as corporate sponsors continue to back a game that is booming across the region.

It includes a bumper three weeks in November where US$17,25 million will be up for grabs in four tournaments that will attract some of the best golfers in the world. The tour’s executive chairman, Kyi Hla Han, said the core of the schedule was based on the successful staging of a series of established events, including the Barclays Singapore Open where the prize pot rises to five million dollars.In total, 29 tournaments have so far been confirmed for 2008 although that is expected to rise significantly once details of a number of other events are finalised.Six tournaments have ramped up their prize money, with the Pine Valley Beijing Open and Iskandar Johor Open now offering one million.Nampa-AFPThe tour’s executive chairman, Kyi Hla Han, said the core of the schedule was based on the successful staging of a series of established events, including the Barclays Singapore Open where the prize pot rises to five million dollars.In total, 29 tournaments have so far been confirmed for 2008 although that is expected to rise significantly once details of a number of other events are finalised.Six tournaments have ramped up their prize money, with the Pine Valley Beijing Open and Iskandar Johor Open now offering one million.Nampa-AFP