Ballesteros family points finger

The family of Seve Ballesteros has accused the European Tour of being "disrespectful" to the late five-times major winner over its plans to host an inaugural EurAsia Cup event in Malaysia in March.

The European Tour launched the new matchplay event between Asia and Europe last month after removing its sanction from the Royal Trophy, a similar matchplay tournament which had been launched by Ballesteros in 2006.

Ballesteros' brother Vicente has criticised the new event, and in particular the claim by European Tour chief executive George O'Grady that the Ballesteros family had lent their support to the venture.

Vicente Ballesteros said in a statement: "I am certain that Seve would have found this proposal to be in very bad taste and very disrespectful. Mr O'Grady has also said that this new proposed event is supported by the Ballesteros family. Whenever anyone talks in public about any family, that person must be very careful.

"I wonder what he means. My brother Baldomero and I do not support this new proposed event at all. In fact we find this attempt disrespectful and I personally find it incredible that anyone takes the liberty to talk on Seve's behalf.

"We support the Royal Trophy and find this new proposed event to be misleading and very bad. I never imagined some people could go so far."

A spokesman for the European Tour said they would be issuing no comment in response to Vicente Ballesteros' claims.

At the EurAsia Cup launch last month, O'Grady said in a statement which was carried on the official European Tour website: "I am pleased that the inaugural EurAsia Cup carries with it the support of Seve Ballesteros' family and The Seve Ballestreros Foundation. We will be in close contact with the family in the coming months to identify ways in which these links can be more formally recognised."

Ballesteros' son Javier was also quoted saying: "It is only fitting that Seve's name is now formally associated with his dream of a team match between two continents, Europe and Asia."