Pakistan mull idea of hosting Asian Tour event

PGF will need Rs50 million to turn Pakistan Open into an international contest

KARACHI: Pakistan’s golf officials are mulling over the idea of raising a whopping 50 million rupees in a bid to revive the country’s status as an Asian Tour destination.

Over the years a lack of ample finances and, perhaps more importantly, widespread security fears have dogged efforts of the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) to hold an Asian Tour event in the country.

However, with the security situation in the country showing marked signs of improvement and the fact that golf is a growing sport here, the PGF chiefs are hopeful that that they can get Pakistan back on the international golf arena.

The issue was discussed in detail at a recent PGF meeting in Islamabad chaired by Lt Gen (retd) Zaheer ul Islam, President PGF.

“There was this general consensus that Pakistan should revive its Asian Tour event,” Asad I.A Khan, President Sindh Golf Association (SGA), told ‘The News’ on Thursday.

Asad, who attended the Islamabad meeting, said that one of the biggest hurdles facing PGF in its bid to hold an Asian Tour tournament is the expense involved.

“According to an estimate, PGF will need to raise around 50 million rupees to hold an Asian Tour event in the country,” he said.

“It’s a tough task but not an impossible one,” he added.

Asad said that if finalized, the event will preferably take place in either Karachi or Lahore.

“An Asian Tour event in Pakistan will attract leading golfers from countries like China, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sri Lanka and will help provide a boost to our golf,” he said.

It’s almost been ten years since Pakistan last hosted an Asian Tour event. The country staged back-to-back events in Karachi in 2006 and 2007 when the Pakistan Open became part of the prestigious Asian Tour.

The idea is to revive the status of the Pakistan Open as an Asian Tour event. The Pakistan Open has primarily been a domestic event since its inauguration in 1967. In 1989, the championship was part of the old Asian circuit where the event was won by Filipino star Frankie Minoza. Pakistan have produced only one Asian Tour winner in the past following Taimur Hussain’s success at the 1998 Myanmar Open.

The Pakistan Open was a part of the Asian Tour in 2006 and 2007. The event was held here at the Karachi Golf Club on both occasions and attracted several leading pros from the region as a part of a three-year deal. However, security concerns forced the cancellation of the 2008 edition.

England’s Chris Rodgers won the inaugural event ahead of India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Amandeep Johl. In 2007 Malaysia’s Airil Rizman claimed his maiden Asian Tour title with a two stroke triumph over Scott Hend of Australia.

Pakistan’s golf officials have tried and failed in the past to put the country back on the Asian Tour map. The two major reasons behind their failure were security concerns and a lack of sponsorship.

To hold an international professional event on its soil Pakistan will need to convince the body governing that particular circuit about both security and prize money. The minimum prize purse of an international event is US$300,000. The Pakistan Open — currently a domestic event — offers just a fraction of that amount as prize money.

Apart from the money factor, it’s the security issue that has been a stumbling block in the way of Pakistan Open becoming a part of the regional circuit once again.

Since March 2009 when the Sri Lankan cricket team was ambushed by terrorists in Lahore, internationals teams have stayed away from Pakistan. There have been minor sporting events involving foreign players but such contests have been few and far between.