The world of International Pairs golf will be broadcast into more than 350 million households in Asia in the next two months as the reputation of the global tournament continues to expand.

In a massive development for the world’s largest tournament of its kind for club golfers, major sports television broadcasters ESPN and Star Sports have agreed to screen 64 hours of footage from International Pairs’ World Final Series across the continent.

The television companies will start broadcasting the series of programmes on October 28 and the footage will be seen in countries including China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan before Christmas.

Ross Honey, managing director of International Pairs, said: “To know that International Pairs will be seen by hundreds of millions of people in Asia is huge news for the competition.

“You only have to look at what has happened in countries like China and South Korea over the last decade to see how quickly golf is growing there.

“China alone has a population of 1.3 billion people and we’are very excited at the opportunity and potential that exists for the future.”

International Pairs’ ‘World Final’ television series has already been broadcast in South America and Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile are among the countries interested in taking up national licences.

The series of five 30-minute programmes are also due to air in the Middle East over the coming months and the signs are that 2010 will be the best year yet in the competition’s history.

International Pairs was established in 1998,staged its first world final in 2003 and some of the finest golfing venues in Europe have hosted the tournament including Celtic Manor, St Pierre, Fairmont St Andrews and The Duke’s, St Andrews.

Earlier this month, competitors from 20 countries gathered in Scotland at Open Championship venue Carnoustie for the sixth International Pairs World Final - won by Canadian teenagers Marilyne Cadieux and Saby Dagenais.

Pairs from America, South Africa, Spain and Portugal were joined by debutants from Antigua and Romania, and the exciting developments on the course are set to be matched by events off it over the next year.

Established golf manufacturers Glenmuir and Excel were among the sponsors at Carnoustie, while global media giants IMG have come on board in 2009 to play an integral role in planning International Pairs’ future.

Honey added: “To have some of the biggest names in golf involved in the tournament is a major step forward.

“The television exposure we will receive over the next few months will open up new avenues of business all over the world and the foundations are really there now for International Pairs to forge ahead in 2010.”