By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : The Maybank Malaysian Open has increased its prize fund to a record $2 million to maintain its status as the premier tournament in the country and a leading event on the Asian and European Tour calendars.
The Malaysian Open holds the honour of being the first co-sanctioned event in Asia since 1999, when it offered a prize purse of $750,000.
According to Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Abdul Majid Iskandar, president of the Malaysian Golf Association, “Since Maybank took over the title sponsorship in 2005, we have truly benefited from their support and commitment to the event and this can be most clearly seen by them increasing the prize purse by almost 100 percent (from 2004).”
“The continuous growth has provided the platform for Malaysia and the Malaysian Open to showcase itself on the local, regional and global stage,” he said.
The Maybank Malaysian Open 2008 will be held March 6-9, 2008, at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in Shah Alam, on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital.
The course has hosted many leading events, including the Volvo Masters of Malaysia, Volvo Masters of Asia, and the World Cup Qualifier.
The par-72 7,100-yard championship course, designed by Australian Ross Watson, is a testament to the challenges that await the players.
Asian Tour senior vice-president Gerry Norquist said: “The Maybank Malaysian Open 2008 has been moved a month back and we expect a strong field, particularly with the Johnnie Walker Classics taking place a week earlier”.
He added that “the tournament has always attracted the best of Asian Tour players and our players have done well at these events. Kota Permai is a proven venue for world class events and with the increase in prize purse I know that our members would be excited at the prospect of playing here again.”