Asian golf on the rise

Thanks to Patricia Hannigan (the Golf Girl) for this post.

She highlights the fact that now half of the world's top twenty women's players are Asian, with this figure at virtually zero just ten years ago.

Players such as 18 year old Michelle Wie (pictured, right) have been at the forefront of this surge but the current leading Asian is Ji-Yai Shin at world no. 7.

Considering she is only 19 years old, there is a real prospect that Asian players may soon be ruling the women's golf world.

As the Golf Girl states: "The LPGA Tour is paying close attention to this Amazin' Asian golf trend and there will surely be more high profile events held in Asia in the future, as they acquire more globally oriented sponsors and build a strong international fan base."

This article has sparked great debate on her blog, with issues being raised on whether these Asians carry enough 'personality' on the Tour and why there isn't a similar trend in the men's game. To see these comments, click here.

Chris Henry, on his EagleParBirdie blog, backs this up with an article on increased commercial sponsorship of Asian golf events.

Mercedes Benz have recognised the surge in popularity of golf in that part of the world and have become "title sponsor of a regional tour in Southeast Asia." Now, certainly in regards to the women's game, Asia is now being recognised not only as the source of the best up-and-coming golfers but also as the best place to generate money.
Picture: www.chosun.com

The Golf Girl post in particular highlights how these blogs can pick up on these growing trends in golf and from that spark debate on the issues behind them.