Sports

Sunday November 8, 2009

Things are looking up for Malaysia

By SEAN CASEY


KOREA’S K.J. Choi has a big heart as well as a big game. After coming out of his own personal recession with a spectacular victory in the Iskandar Johor Open, he donated the majority of his US$158,500 winnings to local charities.

It’s nothing new for Choi to show such generosity. He gives all the money he makes at tournaments in his native Korea to charity and has made substantial donations to worthy causes in the United States.

If he defends the title successfully next year, Malaysian foundations can expect a bigger windfall as there is a good chance that the prize money will be increased from US$1mil this year to a bumper US$2.5mil.

The regional authority in Iskandar, who want to build the tournament into one of the best in Asia, hopes that the jump in prize money will help gain them a sanction from the European Tour.

A certain Tiger Woods, who just happens to be managed by event promoter International Management Group, is also on their radar.

The tournament seems to be a perfect fit for the closing stages of next year’s Race to Dubai.

If everything goes to plan, the Johor Open would be the second tournament in Malaysia to be sanctioned by the European Tour after the national Open.

While the Maybank Malaysian Open did not appear on the 2010 schedule, which was released recently there is no problem with the tournament to be played at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Organisers just wanted to first announce the dates, prize money and star players at a local media event.

It will be interesting to see what prize money the Malaysian Open eventually offers. A bounty of US$2mil was on offer this year but unless the ante is upped, the tournament will be usurped by the Johor Open as the richest in the country.

Encouragingly for Malaysian golf fans, there could be another star-spangled tournament on the Asian Tour next season.

The KL Masters was pencilled in for the end of this season but the plan now is to hold the event, which will boast a prize fund of more than US$700,000, early in 2010.

With Malaysian players receiving extra spots in local tournaments, it is a case of more the merrier for home professionals.

If the KL Masters goes ahead, it will also take some pressure off the Asian Tour, which has been under fire from a vocal group of players about the lack of playing opportunities.

Their argument is that co-sanctioning with the European Tour robs the Asian Tour of more than 65 slots per tournament making life increasingly difficult for those professionals who have come through the rigours of Qualifying School.

It was one of the issues reportedly raised at the stormy annual general meeting of the Asian Tour late last month.

The acrimonious nature of the meeting, with players also raising several procedural points, led to it being abandoned after several hours of wrangling without any decisions being taken or vacant positions on the Board being filled.

The AGM was rescheduled for the week of the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story