SINGAPORE – Jan. 27, 2005 – The Asian Tour has forged a new and exciting partnership with I-Golf where the Singapore-based company will become the Official Apparel Partner for the 2005 season. The tie-up with I-Golf will also support charitable causes as a portion of proceeds from merchandising opportunities will go towards the Asian Tour's efforts to contribute towards the needy across the region.

The agreement reinforces the Asian Tour's objectives of creating a sustainable commercial platform for the long-term growth of the world's fastest growing Tour, said Chief Executive Louis Martin. "We are delighted to sign an agreement with I-Golf as the Official Apparel Partner of the Asian Tour," said Martin.

"As a home-grown golf label, I-Golf has a unique and stylish line of apparel and their vision to establish their brand across the region fits perfectly with the Asian Tour's rapid growth." Bobby Liu, I-Golf Managing Director, said: "It is a pleasure to become a Tour Partner of the Asian Tour. Brand association is a powerful marketing tool that creates consumer awareness and we believe that this association will benefit both organizations in our quest to further promote and develop golf in Asia.

"While it is our aim to establish I-Golf as a leading brand in the region, we are also looking at initiatives to support charitable causes through our merchandising efforts in association with the Asian Tour."

A newcomer in the golf apparel industry, I-Golf has stamped its presence in several countries in Asia. It has previously sponsored professional golf tournaments on an ad-hoc basis, including the inaugural Carlsberg Masters Vietnam in Hanoi last November. I-Golf also has player-endorsement agreements with several leading Asian Tour players including India's Jyoti Randhawa, who finished second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season, and Singapore-based Australian Scott Barr.

Martin said that Asian companies now recognise the dynamic growth of the Asian Tour and the partnership with I-Golf reflects positively the support that the Tour has received from the golf industry. Last season, the Asian Tour staged 22 tournaments, which offered total prize money of US$12.3 million, which was a record in Asia. The Asian Tour will sanction a minimum of 14 tournaments with prize money of US$11.7 million till June of this year. The full schedule for the remainder of the season will be announced in due course.

"The Asian Tour is widely regarded as the fastest growing circuit in the world and the support that we have received from sponsors and corporate backers have been very positive," said Martin.

Contact:
Chuah Choo Chiang
Media Director
Asian Tour
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