More events, single money list as tours merged

The Australasian PGA Tour has moved to bolster to its golf circuit by consolidating the major events with the support cast from its secondary Von Nida Tour.

Prizemoney for tournaments in the new “Summer of Golf Calendar” will now range from $US5 million to $A110,000 with a single Order of Merit (money list) taking in the main and secondary circuits.

The amalgamated season kicks off this week with the $A110,000 Oceanique WA PGA Championship at The Cut Golf Club in Western Australia and will be followed by the NSW PGA at Riverside Oaks near Sydney.

The prize pool then soars to $US5 million for the European tour co-sanctioned HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.

The serious local swing begins with the Victorian Government-backed $A1.5 million Australian Masters at Huntingdale from November 27 to December 3.

It continues with the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum and the $A1.6 million Australian Open at Royal Sydney.

There will be six tournaments in the summer of 2009, starting with the Victorian PGA Championship at Sanctuary Lakes from February 2-8 and the Victorian Open at Spring Valley the following week.

The richest event is the co-sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic which returns to The Vines in Perth with a prize pool of STG1.25 million ($A3.23 million).

Three co-sanctioned US Nationwide events round out the tour - the Moonah Classic at Moonah Links, the New Zealand PGA at Clearwater Resort and Golf Club and the New Zealand Open at The Hills Golf Club.

Australasian PGA Tour commissioner Ben Sellenger said today the new schedule represented a new step in the player pathway from the Von Nida Tour to the major events.

“Last year saw record crowds and increased ratings across the board and some of the strongest fields experienced in Australia for some time,” Sellenger said.

PGA Tour of Australasia 2008-09 season schedule:

2008

Oct 30-Nov 2 WA PGA, The Cut $A110,000

Nov 6-9 NSW PGA, Riverside Oaks $A110,000

Nov 6-9 HSBC Champions, Sheshan International, Shanghai $US5million

Nov 13-16 NSW Open, The Vintage $A125,000

Nov 27-Dec 3 Australian Masters, Huntingdale $A1.5million

Dec 4-7 Australian PGA, Coolum, $A1.5million

Dec 11-14 Australian Open, Royal Sydney $A1.6million

2009

Feb 2-8 Victorian PGA, Sanctuary Lakes $A110,000

Feb 9-15 Victorian Open, Spring Valley $A110,000

Feb 10 International qualifying for the British Open, Kingston Heath

Feb 16-22 Johnnie Walker Classic, The Vines 1.25 million pounds

Feb 23-March 1 Moonah Classic, Moonah Links $US700,000

March 2-7 NZ PGA, Clearwater $US600,000

March 8-14 NZ Open, The Hills $US600,000.

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