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History
Asian PGA Tour
APGA formed 1994,[1] Tour started in 1995. [2]
Formed as players became unhappy with lack of opportunities on the existing tour which was being dominated by "foreigners" [3]
1995–1998 Omega Tour [4]
1999–2003 Davidoff Tour [5]
2004–present Asian Tour [6]
Dates of the major national opens within the region were avoided as were APGC Tour events. They gradually joined the new tour. [7] [8]
"Asian Tour Limited" acquired by Parallel Media Group plc in December 2003. [9]
Effectively re-founded as a new tour for the 2004 season
Asia Golf Circuit
Source: Guinness Golf Records, Facts and Champions pp. 153-155 (ISBN: 0851128475)
aka Far East Circuit, Asian Golf Circuit, Asian Pro Golf Circuit, Asian Tour, etc.) run by the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) (Asian Golf Confederation ) [10]
Started in 1962 as the "Far East Circuit" [11] , [12] , [13] , [14]
In 1959, Hong Kong Open founded joining the long established Philippine Open.
In 1961, Singapore Open founded.
In 1962, Malaysian Open founded and along with a Japan Invitaional at Yomiuri Country Club, the Far East Circuit started with a points based circuit prize.
Became "Asia Golf Circuit" with the addition of India and Korea after 1968 [15] (1975 was the 8th year: [16] )
Founders Leonardo Guinto, Kim Hall, Alan Sutcliffe. [17] Peter Thomson credited with helping the circuit get off the ground. [18] , [19] [20]
started with Philippine, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong opens, plus final tournament in Japan
Thailand Open started 1965 [21]
Taiwan Open started 1965, joined circuit the following year [22]
Korea Open (started 1958) on circuit from 1970; replaced by Maekyung Open from 1982, Korea Open rescheduled to October/November
Indian Open (started 1964) on circuit from 1970
Indonesian Open started 1974 [23]
Papua New Guinea joined 1978, first tournament initially pencilled in for 1980 [24] , but cancelled a few months later [25]
Pakistan Open on circuit in 1989, for one year only
China joined APGC in 1996;[26] Volvo China Open on tour in 1995?
In 1967 a new governing body (the Asian Golf Confederation ) was formed to run the circuit [27] , [28]
Expanded in 1978 to become the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation
Pre-qualifying introduced at some tournaments in 1974 [29]
In 1976, breakaway threat by Malaysia. Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia to form their own tour from 1978
1994 sponsored and titled Newsweek Asian Tour ; sponsorship ran for one year only [30]
Bigger name foreign entries reduced by expanding schedules in US & Europe through the 1980s; tour further squeezed by introduction of Ben Hogan Tour in 1990. [31]
OWGR points awarded until the end of the 1997 season
Squeezed out by APGA Tour
Impacted by economic crisis in 1997 [32]
Tours overlapped for a couple of years [33]
Singapore Open on APGA Tour in 1996, having joined the Australasian Tour in 1993 [34] [35]
Taiwan Open on APGA Tour in 1996(?), and from 1999
Indonesia joined APGA Tour at the end of 1996, Indonesia Open on APGA Tour in 1997 [36]
China on APGA Tour in 1997; also Hong Kong?
Thailand, Korea, India ([37] ) on APGA Tour in 1998
Philippine, Malaysia, Maekyung on APGA tour in 1999
Discussed merging with Australasian Tour in 1993 [38] [39] [40] ; APGC believed they had better prospects so ended discussions early in 1994. [41]
Tour ceased to exist by 1999 [42]
Kirin Open still preceded by "Asian Tour" on the 1999 Japan PGA schedule [43]
Seasons
Order of Merit winners
Source (1962-1987): Guinness Golf Records, Facts and Champions
1962-1981: [44] (leading money winners?)
1962-1979: [45]
1982: [46]
1984-1987: [47]
1998
1997–98 season? (Nov–May)
Note: possible tournaments & schedule given usual dates, known 4 wins for Frankie Minoza [86] [87] :
1997
1996–97 season? (Nov–Apr)
Schedule: [88] (Manila Open=2nd tournament [89] )
Order of Merit [91]
1996
1995–96 season? (Nov–Apr)
"Asia Golf Tour will be bigger and richer. The circuit, organised by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, will comprise 17 tournaments worth a total of US$6.3 million ($B.B million) for the new season" – The Straits Times, 18 August 1995
Schedule: [92]
HK Open originally scheduled for 30 Nov-3 Dec, [94] but brought forward 2 weeks [95]
Order of Merit [96]
1995
"Twelve winners from 12 legs of the asian Tour, and not any of them an asian" – The Straits Times, 2 May 1995
Schedule: [97]
19 events scheduled, 12 early in the year and 7 later, but with some unconfirmed. [98]
Events later in the year may have been part of the following season schedule
Order of Merit [102]
1994
Schedule: [103]
Rolex Masters held same week as Indian Open
Order of Merit [107]
1993
Schedule: [108]
Singapore Open joined Australasian Tour & a request to remain on the Asian Circuit was denied with Rolex Masters (Singapore) proposed to replace it ("approved event" this year, probably non-OoM).
Order of Merit [111]
1992
Source: Heineken World of Golf 93
Order of Merit [113]
1991
1990
Source: The World of Professional Golf 1991
Order of Merit [118]
1989
Schedule: [119]
Schedule overview: [120]
2-5 Mar, Rolex Masters Singapore (non-Circuit event)
6-9 Sep, Rothmans Malaysian Masters (won by Frankie Minoza)
Order of Merit [136]
1988
1987
1986
Source: Ebel World of Professional Golf 1987 ; also schedule: [156]
* Philippine Open non-Circuit event
Order of Merit [158]
1985
Early schedule announcement: [159]
* Philippine Open non-Circuit event
21-24 Mar, Rolex Masters (Singapore)
Order of Merit [173]
1984
Source: Ebel World of Professional Golf 1985
* Philippine Open non-Circuit event
15-18 Mar, Rolex Masters (Singapore) [175]
Order of Merit [176]
1983
Early schedule: [177]
31 Mar-3 Apr, Rolex Masters (Singapore) [189]
Order of Merit [190]
1982
Schedule (no dates, also includes details of non-circuit events): [191]
Non-circuit events: Rolex Masters Singapore (9-12 Feb), Malaysian Dunlop Masters (18-21 Mar), Mizuno Open (3-6 Jun), Sabah Masters (10-13 Jun), Jurong (15-18 Jul), Sentosa (20-23 Jul), B&H (4-7 Aug), Maruman (15-18 Sep), Federal Flour Mills (21-24 Sep), Malaysia PGA (30 Sep-3 Oct)
Order of Merit [194]
1981
Source: Dunhill World of Professional Golf 1982 , also [195]
Tournament was originally scheduled for Papua New Guinea (12-15 Feb) [196] , but they withdrew only a few months after joining [197]
12-15 Mar, Rolex Masters (Singapore) [198]
Order of Merit [199]
1980
Schedule: [200]
13-16 Mar, Dunlop Masters (Malaysia) [214]
Order of Merit [215]
1979
Season review with tournament listing: [216]
Philippines dropped due to non-payment of contributions [217]
Tournament to go ahead but not counting for OoM [218]
Announced tournament to re-launch in December (New Nation, 20 February 1979, AFP)
Order of Merit [219] [220]
1978
Source: Dunhill Golf Yearbook 1979
* Philippine Masters non-Circuit event
Order of Merit [222]
1977
Schedule: [223]
Order of Merit
Unassailable lead after nine events: [234]
1976
1-3 Apr, Malaysian Masters [245]
Order of Merit [246]
disagrees with this : [247]
1975
Announced in Nov 1974 that the Korean open would not be held in 1975 due to financial difficulties; decision reversed in Jan 1975.
27-30 Mar: Dunlop Masters (Malaysia) [258]
Order of Merit [259]
1974
Source: The World of Professional Golf 1975 ; also, schedule: [260]
Order of Merit [262]
1973
1972
Hong Kong initially withdrew from circuit [271] before being reinstated [272]
Indian Open initially dropped from the Circuit due to war [273] , but later restored to make a 9 tournament schedule: [274]
Order of Merit [276]
1971
1970
1969
1968
Rough season overview: [301]
Schedule: [302]
Schedule (includes non-circuit events in India & Kenya): [303]
Order of Merit [309]
1967
1966
1965
Early schedule: [324]
Mid-season recap, confirming schedule: [325]
Order of Merit [328]
1964
Schedule & recap: [329] , [330]
Yomiuri International was not on the circuit this year. [337]
Order of Merit [338]
1963
1962
First season & schedule (dates seem wrong though): [350]
Rough schedule: [351] , [352]
Schedule (including prize money - "Seagram Circuit Prize"): [353]
Order of Merit [359] [360]
Tournaments
Johnnie Walker Super Tour
Volvo Asian Masters
Maruman Classic
Inaugural event in 1981; sponsors decided to rotate round ASEAN countries starting in 1984 [364]
China Open
Taiwan Open
Volvo Asian Match Play
Guam Open
Malaysia
Malaysian golf circuit
1999: [366]
1988: Terengganu (26-29 May), Royal Johor (9-12 Jun), Sarawak (16-19 Jun), Sabah (23-26 Jun), Keningau (30 Jun-3 Jul), Malaysian Masters (7-10 Jul)[367] [368]
1987: Sarawak, Sabah, Johor, Genting, PFP, Desaru, PGA, B&H (open) [369]
1986: Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, PFP, PGA, Tasek Matchplay (closed), Desaru, B&H (closed) [370] (Maruman Classic moved to Thailand)
1985 [371] : Sabah (1-5 May), Sarawak (8-12 May), Royal Johor (15-19 May)
1983 [372] : Dunlop (5-8 May), Mizuno (12-15 May), Sabah (19-22 May)
1982 [373] [374] : Rolex (9-13 Feb), Dunlop (18-21 Mar), Tiger (13-16 May), Warren (19-22 May), Mizuno (3-6 Jun), Sabah (10-13 Jun), Desaru (17-20 Jun), Jurong (15-81 Jul), Sentosa (20-23 Jul), B&H Classic (4-7 Aug), Federal Flour Mills (7-10 Sep), Maruman (14-17 Sep), MAS PGA (23-26 Sep), NST (28 Sep-1 Oct), Singapore PGA (6-10 Oct)
Sabah Masters
New tournament for 1982: [375]
Malaysian circuit event
Australasian Tour 1993 - not played?
Asia Golf Circuit 1994, 1995
Asian PGA Tour 1996–1999,[376] 2019– [377]
ASEAN PGA Tour 2011–2016 [378]
Perak Masters
Australasian Tour 1991–1993 (scheduled in 1994, but may not have been played)
Asian PGA Tour from 1998
Sarawak Masters
Fairway Genting Classic
Royal Johor Classic
Inaugural event in 1985 [400]
PFP Classic
Malaysian Masters
Australasian Tour 1991 & 1992
Replaced by Volvo Masters of Asia in 2002
Malaysian PGA Championship
Philippines
Philippine Classic
Philippine Masters
Inaugural event in 1976, prelude to the Asian Circuit, which began with the Philippine Open the following week. [411] , [412]
Manila Open
Asian Tour in 1997
Manila Southwoods Open
Asian Tour in 1996 & 1997
Singapore
Singapore PGA circuit
1974: [418]
Singapore PGA Championship
Asian PGA Tour from 1995 to 1998
Australasian Tour 1991 & 1992
Tiger Open
aka Sembawang Open
Thailand
Volvo Masters of Thailand