Australia’s Matthew Griffin hopes a landmark court ruling will prove a shot in the arm for Asia’s golfers by allowing them to play on both of the region’s squabbling tours.
Internecine fighting has long been a blot on Asian golf but the Singapore High Court has ruled in favour of four players who argued restraint of trade after the Asian Tour stopped them playing on rival circuit OneAsia.
Griffin, one of the four players, says the case could have important repercussions for golfers trying to make a living and boost their world ranking by taking part in regular events.
Apart from tournaments co-sanctioned with the likes of the European Tour, which have fewer spots for Asian Tour players, Asia’s larger circuit provided about 20 events this year.
OneAsia had around half that number, although with greater prize money per tournament.
“The most important thing is it gives guys the opportunity to play where they want to,” Griffin told AFP on Wednesday.
“It will probably give the chance for guys not to have to play as much overseas, in the United States and Europe, because of being able to play both tours,” he added.
“The more events you get, the better. You’re just trying to create opportunities for yourself … there’s a lot of happy people about this result.”
Griffin, fellow Australian Terry Pilkadaris, Dutchman Guido van der Valk and Anis Hassan of Malaysia were all fined and suspended from the Asian Tour after they played OneAsia events in 2010.
But after a year-long case, the High Court on Wednesday said the Asian Tour had no right to stop them from playing on OneAsia, and also ordered the body to reimburse the golfers’ fines and legal costs.
The judgement sets a precedent and could prove a bigger financial blow to the Asian Tour, which has reserved comment on the case, if it also has to reimburse fines to other players.
Ben Sellenger, OneAsia’s founding CEO who now runs a sports consultancy, said the Singapore ruling would be significant for Asia’s players as they seek to earn money and improve.
“It’s a great decision for Asian golfers because it frees them up to play as many tournaments as they possibly can,” he said.
“Does this mean that the next time OneAsia tees up, they’re going to have 100 players from the Asian Tour?”
Spencer Robinson, managing editor of Asian Golf Monthly, said it also provided a “glimmer of hope” that the Asian Tour and OneAsia could start to co-operate more closely.
“Some people on all sides are claiming they’re working for the betterment of golf and in fact they’re doing no such thing,” he said.
“You just want to shake these guys, pick them up by the ears and bash their heads together and say, ‘For Christ’s sake, there’s a big enough pie. Let’s all sit down and work together’.”
