KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 — The organiser of the Maybank Championship Malaysia today announced the names of the top 15 professional and amateur Malaysian golfers who will tee off in the inaugural golf tournament to be held from February 18-21 at the Royal Selangor Golf Club (RSGC).
The tournament, co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour, Professional Golf of Malaysia Tour (PGM Tour) and Professional Golfers Association of Malaysia (PGAM), offers total prize money of US$3 million (RM12.9 million).
“We are proud to say that the finest selection of Malaysian golfers will be representing the country on the East Course of RSGC next month,” said Maybank chairman Tan Sri Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor in a statement.
“As a co-sanctioned golfing event, the Maybank Championship Malaysia offers one of the most World Ranking Points for Malaysian golfers in the country.
“Making it to the list are top Malaysian golfers Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung who are ranked number 8 and 35 respectively on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. Malaysia’s rising star, 21-year-old Gavin Kyle Green, who recently turned professional, and top Malaysian amateur golfer, Ervin Chang, will also be joining this elite group at the upcoming tournament.”
The other Malaysians selected are R. Nachimuthu, Sukree Othman, Ben Leong, Airil Rizman Zahari, Kemarol Baharin, Shaaban Hussin, Arie Irawan, Khor Kheng Hwai, Kenneth De Silva, Wilson Choo and Iylia Jamil.
The players were selected based on certain criteria. Two spots were awarded to the top Malaysian professionals from the Asian Tour; 12 spots to the top Malaysians on the Order of Merit from the PGM, and one spot to the top Malaysian amateur from the world amateur ranking.
“Golf will be in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this August and with the Maybank Championship Malaysia our professionals will have more chances to gain valuable World Ranking Points that is essential to qualify for the Olympics,” said Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, chairman of the PGM Tour.
“I’m pleased that R. Nachimuthu, the winner of the (PGM) Maybank Tour Players Championship, will also be participating at the Maybank Championship Malaysia. With the stellar line-up of players from Asean countries, Asian Tour and European Tour, the Maybank Championship Malaysia will be a showcase tournament not to be missed.”
Five international players have confirmed their participation. They are Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Danny Willett, Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
The top 67 players from the European Tour and Asian Tour respectively qualify to take part in the 156 fielf.
Five spots will be given to Asean professionals based on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Asian Development Tour Order Of Merit and National Professional Golfers Association of Asean Countries (where available) and one spot will be accorded to the top player on the Middle East North African Tour (MENA).
Two spots are reserved for other top players who are not members of the European PGA Tour and the Asian Tour, and one spot will be given to the Asia Pacific Amateur Masters Champion.
“We are very glad that all the Malaysian players qualified are also members of PGAM,” said PGAM president Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Othman in the same statement.
“The Maybank Championship Malaysia is a platform for the Malaysian golfers to perform and assess their game alongside some of the world’s best.
“With the development of our players over the past years, we at PGAM are confident that Malaysia is well underway to producing some of Asia’s best golfers.” — Bernama
