Masters to include top Asian amateur

The Masters Tournament will continue its efforts to expand golf by helping create the Asian Amateur Championship and offering the winner a spot in its 2010 field.

Billy Payne, the chairman of the Masters and Augusta National Golf Club, made the announcement Sunday night at a news conference in Hong Kong. He made it in partnership with the R&A, which governs golf outside of the United States; and the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, which represents 32 countries in the region.

"Amateurs have always been critical to the tradition and history of the Masters," Mr. Payne said in a phone interview. "The continuation and prominence of amateurs in the field is a salute to our grass roots and a way to showcase golfers as they are developing."

The inaugural event will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at Mission Hills Golf Club in China. The 72-hole stroke play event will have a field of no more than 120 players, and competitors will come from Asia-Pacific-affiliated countries.

The winner of the tournament will be invited to play in the 2010 Masters, and the winner and runner-up will earn places in international final qualifying for the British Open.

Currently, the Masters field has spots for five amateur participants. Amateurs have been a part of the Masters since its inception because Bobby Jones, co-founder of Augusta National and the Masters, is considered the greatest amateur of all time.

The creation of the Asian Amateur is just the latest move by the Masters to help grow the game worldwide and get youths interested in golf.

During Mr. Payne's tenure as chairman, the Masters has televised its annual Par-3 Contest and implemented a Junior Pass Program to let children ages 8-16 attend the tournament when accompanied by an accredited patron.

"We keep dreaming and trying to implement as best we can," he said. "I think this was just a logical extension."

The R&A expanded its global efforts in 2004 with the creation of international final qualifiers on five different continents. The R&A and the Masters will provide financial and logistical support for the event.

"Throughout our 250-year history, the R&A has worked hard to act in the best interests of the game of golf," Peter Dawson, the R&A's chief executive, said in a statement. "The potential to grow the game in Asia-Pacific is very large, and the creation of this championship represents a wonderful opportunity to see the region's talent flourish."

The event will be played in other countries affiliated with the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation. The 2010 event is already scheduled to be held in Japan.

"Golf continues to grow in this region, and what better way to stimulate that growth than to enter into this groundbreaking agreement with the Masters and the R&A?" Tommy Lee, chairman of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, said in a statement. "This initiative will help bring the game to new audiences in Asia-Pacific and will give aspiring amateur golfers a special opportunity in the game."

Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.