OneAsia today announced changes to its eligibility structure for its upcoming 2011 season, which will further consolidate the tournament platform as a true destination for leading golfers across the Asia Pacific.

The renewed structure will clarify and simplify eligibility for top players across the regional tours, provide a clearer channel of communication with players, as well as expand OneAsia access to a broader pool of talent across the region.

This criteria will apply to all OneAsia tournaments for 2011. OneAsia has released its preliminary 2011 schedule, with 13 events currently confirmed for its new season. Further additions will be made to this preliminary schedule in the coming weeks and months, with a view to stage a total of 15 to 17 elite tournaments across the Asia Pacific region in 2011.

Continued exemptions for leading players across the region

OneAsia will continue to provide a direct pathway for the current Founding Parties of OneAsia, namely the China Golf Tour, the Korean Golf Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

OneAsia will also continue to provide access to leading players from other regional tours, such as the Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) and Asian Tour.

And as before, exemptions will be granted to the best Asian players from the Official World Golf Rankings.

Extended exemptions for leading players from South East Asia

This year, leading players from South East Asia were granted OneAsia eligibility for the final six OneAsia tournaments in Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, China and Australia, via the Mercedes-Benz Tour.

Young Thai star Namchok Tantipokakul was close to taking the ultimate advantage of these exemptions at the Thailand Open, when he finished one-shot behind tournament champion Liang Wenchong and walked home with US$84,750.

In 2011, leading players from the Mercedes-Benz Tour conducted by the ASEAN PGA will be eligible for all OneAsia tournaments. This will continue to provide invaluable elite playing opportunities to the best developing players from South East Asia.

Creation of a OneAsia Qualifying School

To further assist with the identification of new talent across the region, OneAsia will conduct a Qualifying School for its 2011 season. This will broaden the reach to elite golfers across the region, providing more leading players with access to OneAsia.

Further details will be made available shortly.

Inclusion of positions for the world's top Asian amateurs

Aside from the top Asian professionals, OneAsia will also provide exemptions to Asia's leading amateur golfers from the R & A World Amateur Rankings for each event, giving elite amateurs a valuable stepping stone to the professional ranks and a more viable career in the region.

Continued local exemptions for enhanced local relevance

As before, OneAsia will guarantee positions to the relevant local authority for each tournament to ensure local relevance, as well as to reward and development.