"New Augusta National event finger-lickin' good"

I'm not sure why the Asian Amateur needs four corporate sponsors, but Steve Elling only wonders why they let this weird photo opp with Colonel Sanders occur:

There's nothing at all wrong with having sponsors to defray costs of a worthy project, mind you. It's just that the photo was jarring because of the corporate contrast with the decades-old Masters mindset.

Sean Martin writes about that first tee scene and the ceremonial first tee ball hit by Billy Payne.

Comments

[KS]

(cringing as I break out the business-speak)

KFC is actually a fairly high-value brand in Asia. Maybe not quite the cache of Rolex, but it certainly is perceived in Asia as being far more upscale than how it is perceived in the U.S. That being said, that still doesn't explain the juxtaposition of Billy Payne and Colonel Sanders.

(Note: these are just my anecdotal observations from my travels there)

[Tay Lormaid]

Everbody "supposedly" wants to grow the game and get more people involved in the game, but as soon as the advertisers are not BMW or Rolex, there is something going "wrong". Who says golf isn't still elitiest?

[Steven T.]

Is this a prelude to ANGC establishing an Asian Masters?

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

I thought those green jackets were to be worn at the "club" so patrons would be able to ask questions of knowledgeable people during the "toonament." Except for Masters Champions who get one year to take theirs off the premises. Guess I was mistaken. Or maybe Steven T. is correct.

[MRP]

The Master's Crew posing the Great Colonel Sanders. Is it simply another sign of the economic toll this recession has taken on the entire global economy or a sign of the apocalypse?

[tvb]

to reiterate KC's point, KFC is very, very busy in all parts of Asia.
To highlight the image indicates that you've never been there.

[Hunterdog]

If the purpose is to grow the game, maybe its ANG that's out of place . Right or wrong ANG is perceived as a white male only club. The idea that ANG wants nonwhites and women to play but you can't be members at our club is, at best, a mix message. I congratulate ANG for spending some of its money to grow the game. But maybe if it opened its own ranks would do even more.

[Hunterdog]

Maybe a club that is widely known for, and proud of, its exclusionary policies, is the sponsor out of place for an Asian Amateur event.

[MRP]

Hunterdog, I think you are correct on all your points.

I never thought of it that way. Interesting.

Thanks!

[blader]

agree w/ KS & tvb above....they love their KFC in asia, to get KFC on board is smart branding

[SGarrett]

I stumbled across a live broadcast of the Asian Amateur on ESPN2 this morning. Oosterhuis led the commentary and was professional as usual, the Mission Hills course was interesting and the leaderboard was NOT dominated by players from down under. Kudos to ANGC, KFC, IBM, Rolex and the other sponsors.

Third round leaderboard.

1 HAN, Chang-Won (South Korea) -10
2 CHUN, Eric (South Korea) -8
3 SHERRATT, Jordan (Australia) -7
4 SPEARMAN-BURN, Peter (New Zealand) -6
T5 KIM, Meen-Whee (South Korea) -5
T5 HAN, Ren (China) -5
T5 FERNANDO, Mhark (Philippines) -5

I completely agree with this post on your earlier thread...

"it's easy to criticize from our armchairs, but the masters wasn't exactly a big deal in it's first year either. augusta is almost always dead-on with it's initiatives in the game, and the asian amateur might be a smash hit in five or ten years. plus, augusta sometimes does things simply for the good of the game -- why else would they invite the us mid-amateur champion? give the asian amateur time, and see the big picture. - 10.26.2009 | big red golfer"

Geoff, why are your posts so often negative - unless, of course, you are applauding someone else's negative opinions? All glasses in this great game are not half empty.

[ImminaHap]

Hey What's up guys

Nice site, hope to be around longer