Asian Tour

Founded in 1995, the Asian Tour consists of 14 member countries excluding Japan, which has its own golf season known as the Japan Golf Tour. So far, there are only eight events for the year lined up from February to May and two of those events will be features this month on BALLS.

Malaysian Open

This event is one of three events on the Asian Tour that is co-sanctioned by the European Tour. Established in 1962, the tournament takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and at stake for all its participants is a hefty prize fund of $2,750,000.

Last year’s winner was Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa. The tournament has yet to see a winner from its own country.

Witness the Malaysian Open from April 10 to 13, 2013 at 1:00 pm only on BALLS.

Ballantine’s Championship

Aside from the Malaysian Open, another event on the Asian Tour that is co-sanctioned by the European Tour is the Ballantine’s Championship which is held annually at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, South Korea.

The tournament also grants its winner a lofty prize fund of 2,205,000 Euros.

Bernd Wiesberger of Austria won last year’s Ballantine’s Championship.

Find out who will emerge as champion in this year’s edition as BALLS showcases the event from April 29 to May 2, 2013 at 1:00 pm.

European Tour

The coverage of the 2013 European Tour continues this month on BALLS Channel as the best players in the world troop to Morocco and Spain.

Trophee Hassan

Established in 1971, the tournament was finally included as part of the events on the European Tour in 2010. The Golf du Palais Royal in Agadir, Morocco serves as the venue for the event. Watch the Hassan II Golf Trophy tournament on BALLS at these times:

• (Thursday) April 4, 2013 – 4:00 pm. 
• (Friday) April 5, 2013 – 4:00 pm. 
• (Saturday) April 6, 2013 – 3:00 pm. 
• (Sunday) April 7, 2013 – 3:00 pm.

Open de Espana

The first tournament that will take place on the European Tour after the Masters is the Open de Espana. Formerly named the Spanish Open, the event was founded in 1921 and has been part of the European Tour schedule since its inception in 1972. Francesco Molina of Italy is the tournament’s defending champion. BALLS will air the event from April 22 to 25 at 3:00 pm.

ATP World Tour 1000 Series

BALLS will be showcasing the ATP World Tour 1000 series in Indian Wells and Miami.

ATP World Tour 1000 series: Indian Wells

The Indian Wells Masters in one of nine tennis tournaments that are a part of the ATP Tour, which is held annually throughout the year in Europe, North America and Asia. Big names participate in at the ATP World Tour 1000 series tournaments because they garner more world ranking points that regular tournaments.

Roger Federer is the defending champion of the Indian Wells Masters. He defeated John Isner in the Finals last year.

Be a part of the action by tuning in to BALLS at these times:

• Round of 16
  – (Thursday) March 14 @ 11:30 am.
• Quarterfinals
  – (Friday) March 15 @ 10:00 am.
  – (Saturday) March 16 @ 4:00 am. 
• Semifinals
  – (Sunday) March 17 @ 2:00 am. 
• Finals
  – (Monday) March 18 @ 4:00 am. 

ATP World Tour 1000 Series: Miami  

The temperature rises in Florida every time the Miami Masters opens shop for the best players in the world to square off precious points in the ATP Rankings and a generous Prize Fund. 

Serbian Novak Djokovic is the back-to-back champion of the Miami Masters event. 

Catch the intense action on the following dates: 

• Round of 16
  – (Wednesday) March 27 @ 9:30 am. 
• Quarterfinals
  – (Thursday) March 28 @ 3:00 am & 9:00 am.
  – (Friday) March 29 @ 3:00 am & 7:00 am. 
• Semifinals
  – (Saturday) March 30 @ 3:00 am & 7:00 am. 
• Finals
  – (Sunday) March 31 @ 11:30 am.

European Tour

The eight event lined up in the 2013 European Tour is the Africa Open which is held at the East Landon Golf Club in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Its inaugural tournament was contested in February 2008 at the Fish River Sun Country Club with Shaun Norris emerging as the victor.

Thirty-year old and one-time Grand Slam winner Louis Oosthuizen is the back-to-back champion of the tournament.

Witness the event via BALLS on the following dates:

• (Thursday) March 7, 2013 – 4:00 pm. 
• (Friday) March 8, 2013 – 4:00 pm. 
• (Saturday) March 9, 2013 – 4:00 pm.
• (Sunday) March 10, 2013 – 4:00 pm.

ATP World Tour 500 Series

After showcasing the ATP World Tour 500 series held in Rotterdam and Memphis, BALLS will move on with its coverage and feature the tennis events held in Acapulco and Dubai.

ATP World Tour 500 Series: Acapulco

 In 1993, the Mexican Open was introduced to the ATP Tour. Austria’s Thomas Muster won the first four tournaments and is still up to this day, the winningest player in the history of the event. However, that could change this year as Spain’s David Ferrer, who has lorded over the Mexican Open for the past three years has a chance to tie Muster should he win for the fourth straight time.

Find out whether Ferrer can match Muster when BALLS airs the event on the following dates:

• Semifinals – (Friday) March 1 @ 8:00 am and 12:00 pm. 
• Finals – (Saturday) March 2 @ 11:00 am. 

ATP World Tour 500 Series: Dubai

One of the most popular pitstops in the ATP Tour 500 series is Dubai. The Aviation Club Tennis Centre plays host to the Dubai Tennis Championships which began in 1993. The player with the most number of victories in the event is none other than the Swiss Machine himself, Roger Federer. The 17-time Grand Slam champion bested Andy Murray in the Finals of the tournament last year to win his fifth Dubai Tennis crown. 

Witness the event as it heads to its final stage on the following dates: 

• Semifinals – (Monday) March 1 @ 9:00 pm. 
•  Finals – (Tuesday) March 2 @ 11:00 pm.

ATP World Tour 500 Series

ATP World Tour 500 series: Rotterdam 

The first edition of this tournament held in Rotterdam, Netherlands took place in 1974 with Dutchman Tom Okker besting the competition. Last year’s champion was Roger Federer while the tandem of Michael Llyodra and Nenad Zimonjik took home the Double’s grand prize. 

Witness the epic conlusion of this year’s tournament at these times: 

• Semifinals – (Sunday) February 17 @ 2:30 am and 2:30 pm. 
• Finals – (Monday) February 18 @ 1:00 am. 

ATP World Tour 500 series: Memphis

Another location in the ATP Tour 500 series is Memphis. The Racquet Club of Memphis first hosted the tournament in 1977 with a triumph by Bjorn Borg. In last year’s tournament, Austria’s Jurgen Melzer took home the grand prize by beating Canada’s Milos Raonic. 

Be a part of the action as it heads to its final stage on the following dates:

• Semifinals – (Sunday) February 24 @ 2:00 am and 2:30 pm. 
• Finals – (Monday) February 25 @ 5:00 am.

European Tour

Joburg Open

Founded in 2007, the Joburg Open is played at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the seventh event lined up in the 2013 European Tour.

Brendan Grace is the defending champion, edging Jamie Elson by a single stroke in last year’s tournament.

Witness the event on the following dates:

• (Friday) February 8, 2013 – 4:00 pm. 
• (Saturday) February 9, 2013 – 2:00 am and 4:00 pm. 
• (Sunday) February 10, 2013 – 2:00 am and 4:00 pm. 
• (Monday) February 11, 2013 – 12:00 am and 4:00 pm.