The Asian Tour has announced that this year''s India Open will have a record $1million (£500,000) prize fund.
Sponsor Hero Hondas has agreed to put up the prize money for the event, which is scheduled to take place at Delhi Golf Club between October 9th and 12th.
Kyi HlaHan, the executive director of the tour, described the development as a reflection of the professional game''s growing popularity in Asia.
"The Asian Tour''s 2008 season is poised for a record year with our schedule offering an all-time high of 29 tournaments and over $38 million in prize money," he added.
Although the financial rewards available on the Asian Tour are much smaller than those on offer to players on its US and European counterparts, it has proved to be a useful stepping stone for many professionals.
Titleist golfer Adam Scott, Jeev Milkha Singh, Scott Strange and Simon Dyson are among those to have honed their skills in Asia before moving on to the European Tour. |