In December's Living Golf: Time for a World Tour?

LONDON, England (CNN) -- This month Living Golf investigates the new-look European Tour, which has become an altogether more global prospect, and asks how can it offer more money with the world in the grip of the credit crunch.

We also sit down with the world's top player playing at the moment, Sergio Garcia, we visit China to see how they are teaching better manners through golf, and resident pro Adam Scott shows us the shots you can't account for.

The European Tour revamped

The European Tour is now only "European" by name, not by nature. With some 25 countries across five continents, the new-look format -- the Race to Dubai -- got underway in November.

In some extremely difficult times in the financial markets, the economic woes of the world haven't prevented the European Tour from announcing their new bumper $20 million schedule, featuring the world's richest tournament, the $10 million Dubai World Championship.

On this edition of Living Golf, we will be in China for the opening event of the 2009 season, the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. We will be taking a step back in time to show you how the European Tour has evolved since its inception some 30 years ago; be asking the world's biggest players what they think of the new format; and look to the future of the game as the tour appears to be moving towards global domination.

News

A look back at the biggest stories of the past month featuring the latest tournament action

Scott's Hot Shots

Our regular pro Adam Scott shows us how to execute those shots that you just can't account for.

Rags to riches

The European Tour has lived long in the shadow of the PGA Tour, the world's most profitable golf organization.

However, times are changing and many expect the roles to reverse, especially with many top banks "bankrolling" the PGA Tour. With many of these tournaments now under threat due to the credit crunch, how is the European Tour managing to splash the cash?

We speak to the key men behind the Race to Dubai and ask the PGA Tour if they're concerned about their long term prospects.

Sergio Garcia one-on-one

The new world number two is one of the most recognizable figures in the game right now, and has already committed himself to this new look format on the European Tour.

Having won the opening event in Shanghai in November, Justin Armsden sits down with him to gather his thoughts on what it means for the professional game, and to reflect on his most successful but perhaps his most disappointing season to-date.

Learning golf means better manners

The continued expansion of the European Tour has helped promote the game in China, but it's not just at the professional level that golf is making a difference. Emily Chang files a report from Beijing where schools are using the sport to instill good manners to their pupils.