Singapore: The Asian Tour continues to explore plans for a resumption of tournament play.

In recent months, professional golf circuits have resumed in China, Japan, Europe and the United States.

However, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the wait goes on for the Asian Tour, its plans complicated by the fact that it stages events in numerous countries.

With travel restrictions still in place as well as the threat of individuals having to serve quarantine periods on arrival in various nations, the Asian Tour is facing unique challenges.

Only four events on the Asian Tour schedule have been possible so far this year – the Hong Kong Open (January 9-12); SMBC Singapore Open (January 16-19); New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sports (February 27-March 1) and the Bandar Malaysia Open (March 5-7).

“As of now, there are no tournaments scheduled for the rest of the year but we have been working on a restart strategy for the Tour to ensure that we have the best chance of playing as many events as we can as soon as it is practically possible,” said Cho Minn Thant, Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of the Asian Tour, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

He added: “We are doing our best to consider all the various factors but will ultimately be guided by the respective local governments’ directives.

“We are targeting a window of December to early January, provided there is a relaxation of restrictions, and no resurgence in cases here in Asia. 

“In the past few weeks we are starting to see some positive signs in the region where countries are adopting reciprocal travel arrangements with other Covid-19 stable countries and seeing governments becoming more receptive to our restart proposals in order to boost their economies.

“It’s going to be a while before we will be able to travel freely as we once did, but I am optimistic about the chances of a few destinations being available for the Asian Tour to restart in a controlled manner.”