European Tour boss denies saying EurAsia Cup is 'a mistake and not sustainable'
George O’Grady responds angrily to comments from Ivan Ballesteros, co-managing director of the rival Royal Trophy
European Tour chief executive George O’Grady has strongly denied saying the new EurAsia Cup team tournament was a “mistake” after organisers of a rival event claimed he was having second thoughts.
O’Grady was responding to comments from Ivan Ballesteros, co-managing director of the rival Royal Trophy, who said the European boss had told him having two similar, Europe v Asia tournaments was unsustainable.
“I categorically refute the comments that Ivan has attributed to me stating that the EurAsia Cup is a ‘mistake’ and ‘not sustainable’,” O’Grady said.
“It is simply not the case. We are very much looking forward to the initial playing of the match next month where two excellent teams are coming together under the captaincy of two of the greats of the game – Thongchai Jaidee and Miguel Angel Jimenez.”
The EurAsia Cup, which debuts next month in Malaysia, will be a Ryder Cup-style Europe v Asia team event.
It is similar to the longer-established Royal Trophy. The seventh edition of this tournament was held at the Dragon Lake Golf Club in Guangzhou in December.
Organisers of the Royal Trophy, inspired by the late Seve Ballesteros, are furious at the creation of a new tournament.
