British Open 2022 cancels Asian Tour invitation

The R&A, which governs the global rules of golf, has been working for several years to grow the game on a global scale and make the British Open Championship a truly global event. As a result, the highest-ranking player in the Asian Tour final has received a coveted automatic invitation to the main draw of the British Open every year for the past two decades. The British Open fans can buy British Open 2022 Tickets from our website.

British Open cancels Asian Tour invitation

But surprisingly, the R&A withdrew the exemption. The R&A gave no official reason for the change.

“We will appraisal and update our waivers from time to time and any variations will be carefully considered by our championship committee,” an R&A spokesperson told Golf Australia.

As a result of the decision, South Korean player Joohyung Kim, who securely topped the Asian Tour's cumulative rankings with earnings of $507 and $553 in January 2022, will compete in the 150th British Open in St Andrews in July not received this year. This is a massive setback to the international relationship between The R&A and the Asian Tour, which is trying to grow a professional game in the region.

Lacking an official reason, it is speculated that the decision was prejudiced by the Asian Tour's receipt of $300 million in funding from Saudi-backed LIV Golf Investments.

LIV Golf Investments is also the group behind the proposed Saudi Golf Alliance, which has faced stiff opposition from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. The PGA Tour has threatened to ban players who sign up for the Saudi league.

If the guesses are right, this marks the first concrete step in the battle between the tours. The R&A could put an end to speculation by explaining why the waiver was lifted, but that's unlikely. Scott Hend, the 2016 Asian Tour Ranking winner and No. 2 on the Asian Tour's all income list, believes the Asian Tour is being punished for doing what's best for its members.

R&A could put an end to speculation by explaining why the waiver was lifted

"My exact message to Asian Tour CEO Cho (Minn Thant) when everything is going is don't worry about what the PGA Tour and the European Tour want you to do," Hend told Global Golf Post. You just need to take care of your membership first. That's what he did. Now they are trying to impose sanctions on the Tour. I am very disappointed with the R&A's decision to cancel the Asian Tour Open Championship. It's just tinkering with and influencing R&A in the context of these big tours. This is unsuitable.

The Asian Tour also did not observe the R&A's move. However, there is still an alternative way from the Asian Tour to the Open. As noted by Golf Monthly, the champions of the following three tournaments on the Asian Tour - SMBC Singapore Open (co-approved with the Japan Tour), Kolon Korea Open (Korea Golf Association) and the recently added New Zealand Open Tournament (PGA Tour) Australasia) - both qualify for St Andrews.

Time will tell whether R&A stays on track or bows to the power of the PGA and European Tour, which have taken over the Asian Tour.

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