Event hit by allocation row

Thai golfers should be treated fairly for chances to play in international events held in the country, an official said yesterday.

The Professional Golf Association of Thailand (Thai PGA) allocated all 16 berths for Thai golfers for the Thailand Classic to its members.

Tanukiat Janchum, of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), said that members of the main domestic circuits _ the Thai PGA Tour and All Thailand Golf Tour _ should have been given the same number of spots.

“We have treated the two tours equally for many years,’’ said Tanukiat, director of the professional sports department.

He said players from the All Thailand Golf Tour could appeal to the SAT which financially supports the Thai PGA.

There will be 144 players at the US$2 million Thailand Classic to be held at Black Mountain in Hua Hin from Feb 12-15.

The tournament is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Asian Tour and each got 62 spots.

Tanukiat said that the tournament, the first European Tour event in Thailand since 2007, would help promote the country and boost its golf industry.

The tournament is the richest golf event in Thailand.