‘Korean boycott will not stop Oneasia’

A boycott by South Korean golfers, unhappy with the new qualification rules instituted by the OneAsia circuit, will not stop organizers from holding upcoming tournaments, the Korean Golf Association said on Monday.

A boycott by South Korean golfers, unhappy with the new qualification rules instituted by the OneAsia circuit, will not stop organizers from holding upcoming tournaments, the Korean Golf Association said on Monday.

The golfers have protested against what they call quotas against local players, and a group of about 135 pros announced two weeks ago that they would not compete in three upcoming tournaments in South Korea — The SK Telecom Open, Kolon-Hana Bank Korea Open and GS Caltex Maekyung Open.

Players have complained that only half the number of South Koreans, who normally compete in the tournaments, will be able to participate this year. The Korean PGA tournaments typically draw up to 100 local golfers.

The Korean Golf Association said 72 South Koreans would compete in the Maekyung Open. The four-day tournament next month is expected to draw more than 150 players from Australia, China and South Korea.

If the boycott continues, South Korean officials will speak to their counterparts in China and Australia to discuss how to fill the vacancies, he said.