KUALA LUMPUR - World number two Luke Donald (pic) will star for the first time in this year's $2.75 million Maybank Malaysian Open golf tournament, organisers said on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old former world number one is determined to regain the top title this year from Rory Mcllroy.

Mcllroy was one of his teammates in Europe's thrilling success at the 2012 Ryder Cup.

Donald, who won the Money Lists on both sides of the Atlantic in 2011, has accrued seven European Tour titles, including back-to-back success in the tour's flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship.

The Englishman was also part of the Ryder Cup European Team on four occasions, the last being 2012.

Donald will be joined by other star players who are in the world's top 50 including some who are major champions. Organisers will be announcing their names in the next few weeks.

"The confirmation of Luke Donald is indeed another boost for the Maybank Malaysian Open," Maybank chairman Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohamad Nor said in a statement.

"I am sure the golfing public will be raring to see him go on our greens," he added.

The tournament will be held from March 21 to 24 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in the Malaysian capital.

It had previously attracted Mcllroy, Louis Oosthuizen, Matteo Manassero and Thongchai Jaidee. - AFP

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