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Singapore's High Court has ruled against the Asian Tour golf circuit in a restraint of trade case brought against it by four golfers, with the episode marking the latest incident in the battle for golfing supremacy between the Tour and rival organisation OneAsia.
Australians Terry Pilkadaris and Matthew Griffin, Dutchman Guido van der Valk and Malaysian Anis Helmi Hassan brought the case against the Asian Tour after being suspended for refusal to pay $5,000 fines imposed for playing events on the OneAsia circuit. The players had argued the fines were unfair and they should be allowed to play tournaments elsewhere when an Asian Tour event was not scheduled.
Reuters reports that last week's High Court ruling saw the judge come to the conclusion that the Asian Tour's regulations regarding the release of players to take part in events on other tours were "unenforceable and null and void for being an unreasonable restraint of trade".
The Tour was ordered to repay the fines to the players and pay their costs.
The Asian Tour maintains it was following its regulations by suspending the players for their failure to pay. It added that other Tour members had agreed to pay the fines and gone on to compete in rival events.
A Tour statement read "our lawyers are reviewing the court judgement and we will make further comments at an appropriate time."
OneAsia Chairman and Commissioner Sang Y Chun said the Asian Tour's policy of stopping its players from competing in other competitions was "illogical", especially when there was no conflict of dates.
He added "we have always had a much more open policy - if you are qualified to play, you should be allowed to play.
"OneAsia wants to see the best golfers in Asia competing for the richest purses and we hope this ruling opens the way for more players to take part in our events without fear of punitive fines or banning."

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