PGA Tour Matchups: IMG Trounces PGA Tour

Doug Ferguson reports that in the matchup of Asian golf tournaments, the IMG has eliminated the PGA Tour 8&7. That's because next week the PGA Tour has the Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia, with a $6 million purse and Brandt Snedeker, Lucas Glover, Brendan Steele and Jhonattan Vegas.

IMG countered with the Shanghai Masters and a $2 million first prize along with appearance fees for all.

The 30-man field includes three major champions - Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley - along with Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Geoff Ogilvy, Hunter Mahan, Anthony Kim, K.J. Choi, Louis Oosthuizen, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Y.E. Yang. All are getting appearance money, and last place pays $25,000. John Daly and Colin Montgomerie also are in the field.

Wow, way to class up the bottom half of the draw!

The PGA Tour - not to mention Malaysia title sponsor CIMB - is not happy about the new tournament, especially with 16 of its tour members involved. Because it is not a sanctioned event, the players do not need a conflicting-event release.