On the Night of the 25th, the Joburg Open Opens, Asian Tour Starts with Phuket Championship in Thailand, 'Domestic No. 1' Kim Joo-hyung Takes Off
The DP World Tour will begin its 2022 season starting with the Joburg Open, which opened on the night of the 25th. Johannesburg, South Africa = Getty Images / MultiBits
[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "DP World Tour Start."
The new name of the European Tour is the DP World Tour. DP World, a logistics company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), has expanded its sponsorship to cover the entire tour, leveraging its "oil dollar power." It is noteworthy that this "money festival" consists of 47 tournaments in 27 countries, with a total prize fund of 200 million dollars (2.3782 trillion won). The Joburg Open, which opened on the night of the 25th (Korean time) in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the opening event of the 2022 season.
It is interesting that this move is to counter the Premier Golf League (PGL) led by Saudi Arabia. Starting in 2023, each season will feature 18 tournaments, including 12 in the United States, with a total prize fund of 20 million dollars per tournament and a winner's prize of 4 million dollars (475.8 million won). Massive funds must be poured in to compete against the alliance of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. This is similar to how the World Golf Championships (WGC) series initially increased prize money to attract big stars.
PGL has first targeted the Asian Tour. On the 5th, the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship started in Phuket, Thailand, and the Saudi International, which has been held as a European Tour event for the past three years, will be held as a special match with a total prize fund of 5 million dollars in March next year. Additionally, LIV Golf Investments, led by Greg Norman (Australia), is investing a huge 200 million dollars to instantly create 10 tournaments. The major shareholder of LIV Golf Investments is the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The Phuket Championship is especially attracting domestic fans' attention as "domestic number 1" Kim Joo-hyung (19), Seo Yo-seop (25, DB Insurance), and LG Signature Champ Kim Bi-o (31) are participating. With the launch of PGL extending its effects to the Asian stage, domestic players have naturally gained opportunities to join the world league. Jo Min Tant (Australia), Asian Tour Commissioner, expressed hope, saying, "We expect Korean players to actively participate in the Asian Tour."
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