INCHEON • PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem is confident the Presidents Cup has a bright future despite the overwhelming dominance of the United States over the years and said bringing the event to South Korea was a milestone in the development of Asian golf.

Since the inaugural edition of the Presidents Cup in 1994, the United States have beaten a team of international players eight times and tied once. Their only defeat came at the 1998 competition at Royal Melbourne.

That one-sidedness led to calls for a shake-up and the format for this week's event at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon has been tweaked to reduce the number of total points on offer from 34 to 30.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem speaking during the prize giving after the final round of the Tour Championship By Coca-Cola on Sept 27, 2015. PHOTO: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Having fewer matches could help the International team, who do not have the same strength in depth as the Americans.

Finchem said the Presidents Cup would still be going strong long after it leaves South Korea, which is the first Asian country to host the event.

"I think the Presidents Cup is successful regardless of any particular match outcome," he told reporters yesterday. "You always want to see the matches close. I hope they are. But I think the fundamental thing here is what's happening with golf in Asia, what the future of golf is in Asia.

"I told the players the other night, 20 years from now, you look back, and this will be one of the milestones in terms of where golf is in Asia."

While the popularity of golf continues to grow on the continent, its players are also making an impression. International captain Nick Price has players from a record four Asian countries on his team - Bae Sang Moon (South Korea), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and Anirban Lahiri (India).

"I think this is a great step in the Presidents Cup to be in Asia, coincidentally with a year where there are four Asian countries represented on the team," added Finchem.

"Says a lot about the way golf is developing in this region of the world, and I think it was a great choice to come to Korea because of its ability to stage big events, and because both on the men and women's side, the way they are developing elite players."

REUTERS