Seve’s Plea to the Asian Tour Was Turned

Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR) – March 4, 2014 – Further content of a letter from the legendary five-time Major winner Seve Ballesteros to the Asian Tour and the respective reply from the Tour’s Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han have been brought to light, exposing that the Asian Tour’s decision to reject Seve’s passionate plea was fundamentally based on money and television.

In the 13 May 2010 letter, during the period he was fighting brain cancer, Seve wrote to Han: “… I have experienced a challenging period with my health but my recovery has been good and I am feeling much better. I am looking forward to playing at St. Andrews this summer, as it will certainly be a special opportunity for me to show my appreciation to all the people who have supported me so much during a difficult time.

“Kyi Hla, I am personally writing this letter to you because of the status of the event that my team and I have been working on since 2001. Starting on that year, and based on my vision, we developed the concept of a team match play continental championship where Europe would compete against Asia; the Royal Trophy …. From that time until 2006 great effort, time and money has been invested to bring the concept to fruition.

“We decided to stage the five inaugural editions of the competition in Thailand and in time, through significant investments and great sacrifice, the Royal Trophy grew into a fantastic and very well-established event.

“… we have been informed by the European Tour that the Asian Tour is interested in developing … an event in this very same format in the Asian region; the format being Europe playing Asia in a team match play continental competition.

“… I could not have imagined that the Asian Tour, or the European Tour, would be planning to take advantage of all the goodwill and value we have created in the Royal Trophy, copy it and take it as its own.

“Kyi Hla, this situation has left an even more negative impression on me because I have always been very positive about having all of the respective Tours involved in the Royal Trophy and I have always seen my team carrying the very same positive attitude. This news from the European Tour is very upsetting and disturbing to my team and to me personally, and I am approaching you because I really hope the European Tour was mistaken.

“As the Asian Tour, the Japan Tour and the European Tour have always been informed … my wish … is to have all three Tours involved in this great event – a competition that continues to grow into a lasting legacy of mine for the game that has given me all I am today. We have made a very important effort to create the tournament. We have made significant investments in the building of the Royal Trophy.

Seve concluded the letter referring to Han as a friend. However, it took 53 days for the Asian Tour Executive Chairman Han to reply: “The Asian Tour and European Tour have noted your concerns over the plans for the Asian Tour and European Tour to start a new team event between Europe and Asia ….

“… we have worked hard to try and agree terms … to sanction the Royal Trophy. Unfortunately, we have not been able to agree on certain critical terms to enable this to happen. We have not been offered any of the necessary sanction fees we require, we have had conflicts over the international television rights ….

“I would welcome the chance to meet with your representatives at The Open Championship … and elaborate on potential ways to collaborate going forward.”

In August 2013, just over two years following the charismatic Spaniard’s death, the Asian and European Tours announced a new team match play continental championship where Europe competes against Asia, named the Eurasia Cup. In statements issued by the Tours and in blatant contradiction to Seve Ballesteros’ emotional appeal, it was expressed that the Eurasia Cup counted with support of the Ballesteros family and that Seve would have cherished the establishment of the new event. It was also announced that the event would be hosted in Malaysia and presented by DRB-HICOM.

“I represented Seve and the Royal Trophy to meet with Kyi Hla Han at The Open Championship in July 2010. Following our conversation, I could never imagine that the Asian Tour and the European Tour would ignore Seve’s letter and the effort and hard work of so many people that have made the Royal Trophy possible, including the Japan Golf Tour, past Captains and players;” said Ivan Ballesteros, Seve’s former manager.

“In August 2013, before they launched the Eurasia Cup, I wrote to George O’Grady at the European Tour and reminded him that the Royal Trophy had always been open and welcoming towards the Asian and the European Tours.

“I also told George that their launching of this new event in the same format as the Royal Trophy would show complete disregard to the Royal Trophy, show significant lack of unity and professionalism in the golf community and would drive Asian professional golf into even greater disrepute and conflict.

“In his reply to me he said that the Asian Tour had declared their wish to have a formal event, that Keith Waters from the European Tour had been involved and that he could not be of more help. This did not make sense to me because the Royal Trophy is a formal event, was sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours previously and has been sanctioned by the Japan Tour in all seven editions.

“We are still waiting for an official and proper apology and retraction on the inaccurate comments made by the Tours about the Ballesteros family and Seve,” added Ivan Ballesteros.

Seve Ballesteros’ brother, Vincente Ballesteros said in January 2014: “I understand that Mr. George O’Grady at the European Tour is saying that Seve would have cherished this new tournament they are trying to create to damage the history and heritage of the Royal Trophy. This is not true. Seve was very emotionally attached to the Royal Trophy.”

The announcement of the Eurasia Cup has faced opposition from numerous parties including José María Olazábal, the Japan Golf Tour and the China Golf Association.

Former Royal Trophy player Thomas Bjorn has said that the European players have been placed in an “impossible position”.

European Team Captain for the latest edition of the Royal Trophy José María Olazábal said: “Everyone can see what a great competition the Royal Trophy has developed into – but I certainly cannot see why we should need another Europe vs Asia match when this one is proving so successful.”

The eighth edition of the Royal Trophy will be held on 19-21 December 2014 at the Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, China. The European Team currently holds stewardship of the sixteen-kilogram solid-silver Royal Trophy following a dramatic 8 ½ – 7 ½ victory in December 2013.

About The Royal Trophy:
The Royal Trophy – Europe vs Asia Golf Championship is the official and traditional competition played between the two continents. The seventh edition of the Championship was held on 20-22 December 2013 at Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in the People’s Republic of China. The eighth edition of the Matches will be held on 19-21 December 2014 and will remain at the 54-hole Dragon Lake Golf Club. The Royal Trophy features Asia and Europe competing in a series of 16 foursomes, fourball and singles matches. The Royal Trophy Players’ Committee is comprised of Sir Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam OBE, José María Olazábal, Paul McGinley, Isao Aoki, Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki and Jeev Milkha Singh.

For further information, please contact:
Doris Chang
Entertainment Group (Asia) Limited
Tel: (852) 2834 0060
Fax: (852) 2838 8593
Email: doris@eg-rt.com
Website: www.TheRoyalTrophy.com