Westwood calls for new major in Asia

World No.2 believes Asia-Pacific region merits a major championship

World number two Lee Westwood thinks men’s golf should create a new major in the Asia-Pacific region writes Tim Maitland. The world No.2 made the suggestion, despite being a supporter of the history behind the four events – The Masters, US Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship – that currently represent the pinnacles of the golf season.

“I like the tradition of the majors. I think the men’s game has got it pretty much right, although I’d like to see another major somewhere else in the world. Somewhere like Asia or Australia,” said Englishman Westwood, who will be playing in the WGC-HSBC Champions – Asia’s one truly world-class tournament – in Shanghai in November.

The HSBC Champions was added to the World Golf Championships schedule in 2009, the first time a WGC event had been staged outside the United States since 2006. Like many of the European golfers, Westwood fully supported that move and believes they should play an even bigger part in the growing internationalization of the sport.

“The World Golf Championships should move around and encapsulate the whole world because it’s in the title of the tournaments. They should be played by players from all over the world and be played all over the world. China’s an emerging market for golf; there’s so many courses being built, people taking up the sport and people getting interested in the sport. It’s somewhere that World Golf Championships have got to be played because it could turn into such a dominant force. Last year’s event was great! Myself and Francesco (Molinari) ran away from the field. It probably looked good on TV and that sort of thing gets people interested. The more tournaments there are played there the more interest there will be,” said the Nottinghamshire-born star who finished one shot short of adding a win in Shanghai to a record that includes wins everywhere from Australia, through Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Dubai as well as in golf’s traditional heartlands.

“I see the way that the Asian economy and markets have supported golf over the last few years and they deserve to have big tournaments there. Asian golf is getting bigger isn’t it? Asia seems to be one of the places that hasn’t been hit so hard by the financial crisis. Europe and America have been nailed really, so Asia’s going to be looking more healthy. Sponsors are more likely to want to put money into sporting events there because they’ve got it.”

Westwood’s comments come after the LPGA was reported to have considered Asia as the location for the fifth major they were creating this year, before eventually deciding to bestow the honour on the Evian Masters in France.

“Look how many good Asian ladies there are at the moment. They should have a major in Asia. Every year you turn on the TV it’s a Korean lady winning or that’s how it seems,” he added.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered