Tim Finchem tours Asia in bid to strengthen Chinese ties

USPGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem embarks on a ten-day trip to Asia this week as he tries to strengthen relations with the China Golf Association in the hope of adding more tournaments.

In its second year as a World Golf Championship, the HSBC Champions this week in Shanghai will count as an official US PGA Tour victory for the first time, if the winner is a US PGA Tour member.

A week ago, Ben Crane won the inaugural Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia, which counted only toward world ranking points.

"We'll be meeting with some entities about a couple of tournaments we're looking at in China in a couple of years," Finchem said. "We'll also be meeting in China with groups from two or three other countries about additional activities.

"We will be playing some more. It's premature to characterise what it will be. In today's world, there's lots of different ways for it to happen. If it's a reasonably sized event, sanctioned appropriately, it can get world ranking points."