Japan Golf Tour Looking to US and European Tours

The OneAsia Tour concept has stalled because the Asian Tour is not on board with the idea.  They seem to be of a conflicted mind themselves.  They don't know if they want to have some kind of symbiosis with the European Tour or launch their own full fledged attempt to become the second best Tour in the world.

Well, the Japanese tour has had enough of the waiting game and they're talking to the US and European PGA Tours about an investment.

Japanese officials spoke with the two richest tours about bringing U.S. and European tournaments to its shores at a time when the Asian Tour is resisting a plan to join forces with Japan, Australia, China and South Korea, said Andy Yamanaka, chief secretary of the Japanese Golf Tour Organization.

“We have discussed the possibility but it’s nothing concrete,” Yamanaka said in a phone interview from Tokyo. “Unless we work together with other tours it’ll be difficult to continue being a successful tour.”

Whether through OneAsia or other tours, golf in Japan needs to become more international to satisfy sponsors such as Canon Inc., Panasonic Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., Yamanaka said.

And here's some more incentive to play in Japan.

The yen’s rise against the U.S. dollar has also increased the allure of playing in Japan, he said, with $2 million events now worth nearer $2.5 million.

Unlike what is happening in Europe with the Euro and Pound, Japan's currency is surging against the US Dollar.

Could an agreement be in the works?