Kuala Lumpur, 23 December 2014: Maybank Malaysian Open 2015 today announced the participation of three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee at the 54th edition of the US$3 million showpiece which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club from February 5th – 8th, 2015.
The two-time Malaysian Open champion and Captain of Team Asia at the inaugural EurAsia Cup; Thongchai is no stranger to Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia which he regards as his ‘second home’. One of only three players ever to win back to back Malaysian Open titles which he achieved in 2004 and 2005 – the latter including a hole-in-one in the final round – Thongchai is looking forward to once again challenge the star studded field in celebration of Maybank’s 10th year as title sponsor of the national Open.
Thongchai started his professional career at the age of 30 but after winning the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit two years later, he created history by becoming the first Thai to play in all four rounds at the US Open Championship. Although he failed to get his US PGA Tour Card in 2003, he never looked back as it was the year that saw his initiation into playing in Europe. He became the first ever Thai to complete all four rounds at The Open Championship at St Andrew’s in 2005 and became the second Thai to play at Augusta National Golf Club in 2006 although he missed the cut. 2014 saw him win the Nordea Masters in Sweden after a dramatic three-man play-off after an impressive final round of 65 over Victor Dubuisson and Stephen Gallacher.
With 15 Tour victories under his belt including two in Europe, at 45 years old, Thongchai finished 44th on the Official World Golf Ranking and 22nd in The 2014 Race to Dubai Rankings. Thongchai is highly regarded as one of Asia’s greatest players and is convinced that there are still more accolades to be won. A favorite with the Malaysian crowd, Thongchai will have many supporters urging him to become only the second player to win the Malaysian Open title three times after Terry Gale of Australia, who achieved the feat in 1983, 1985 and 1987.
The Asian Captain will join a stellar cast of 156 players including 22 Malaysians, from the Asian Tour and European Tour for the prestigious co-sanctioned national Open scheduled from February 5th – 8that the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
The first national Open in Asia to be co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours in 1999, the Maybank Malaysian Open 2015 will once again feature top professional players competing for the historical Seagram Trophy.
Prize money earned at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2015 goes towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit and will count towards The European Tour’s Race to Dubai at the end of the year.
This world class golfing event has seen the participation of former World Number Ones, Vijay Singh and Martin Kaymer as well as the current No. 1 Rory McIlroy in addition to several Major Winners including Peter Thomson, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Padraig Harrington, Sir Nick Faldo, Retief Goosen, and Michael Campbell, whilst also producing young and exciting winners such as Korean sensation Noh Seung-Yul (2010) and Matteo Manassero of Italy (2012).
For tournament updates and details of the event please visit:-
www.maybankmalaysianopen.com
www.facebook.com/MaybankMalaysianOpen
For any media editorial enquiries on Maybank Malaysian Open, please contact:
Fione Wong
Arcis Communications
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About Maybank
The Maybank Group is South East Asia’s fourth largest bank by assets. It has an international network of over 2400offices in 20 countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong SAR & People’s Republic of China, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Laos, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Great Britain and the United States of America. The Group offers an extensive range of products and services, which includes consumer and corporate banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, insurance and takaful and asset management. It has over 47,000 employees serving more than 22 million customers worldwide. (www.maybank.com)
About the Malaysian Golf Association
The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) is the sole governing body of golf in Malaysia that was founded in 1929 by representatives of golf clubs to promote the sport while preserving its traditions and integrity. The non-government organization is run by passionate volunteers who have a love for the game of golf, with the help of a team of management staff. The association’s portfolios have increased over the years ranging from conducting 14 state amateur opens, national amateur open, national amateur close, Malaysian Open to processing handicaps through its National Handicap System to promoting grassroots programs and training of athletes to represent Malaysia in international events.
The European Tour
The European Tour is committed to celebrating the game of golf from the origins of the professional game, building a proud history of achievement, sportsmanship and integrity as well as showcasing our diverse global talent and rich landscapes. The European Tour’s innovative approach enables us to embrace the world, combining championships of tradition with new tournaments in the cities and countries of the future. The European Tour International Schedule, which from 2009 has incorporated The Race to Dubai, is a thriving global brand which, in 2013, will feature a minimum of 45 tournaments spread across all five continents of the world; the European Challenge Tour focuses on the up and coming players of the future; while the European Senior Tour provides a new start for champions celebrating their 50th birthday. The European Tour’s corporate identity features the iconic silhouette image of six-time Open Champion Harry Vardon who gives his name to The Harry Vardon Trophy, presented to the player who is crowned European Tour Number One and winner of The Race to Dubai at the end of the season.
About the Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us atwww.asiantour.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf,www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour andwww.weibo.com/asiantourgolf.
About Kuala Lumpur Golf &Country Club
Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) is a member of Sime Darby Property Bhd and a propriety Club wholly-owned and operated by KLGCC Berhad. The club has won numerous accolades from both local and foreign golfing fraternity, the latest being recognised as Number One and Two top golf courses in Malaysia for 2014 by US Golf Digest, voted the ‘Best Course in Malaysia’ for the second time in a row for its championship West Course at the 2013 Asian Golf Monthly Awards, the second runner up for the Best Championship Course in Asia Pacific and nominated as Top 10 Best in Asia Pacific for Best Clubhouse and Best Pro-Shop categories. At the same time, KLGCC was voted Best Golf Experience for the Best of Malaysia Awards 2013 Travel Awards by The Expatriate Lifestyle Magazine readers. Today, KLGCC is a landmark as the most luxurious golf resort development in Malaysia and KLGCC has in recent years hosted numerous international championships such as the Maybank Malaysian Open and the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
About GlobalOne
GlobalOne (Emerald Evolution Holdings Sdn Bhd) is an executive lifestyle sports promoter and we create sports event ownerships.
We specialise in providing the full spectrum in sponsorship event management and have an excellent track record in planning and delivering on PGA European Tour golf events for Malaysia (Maybank Malaysian Open), Singapore (Singapore Masters) and Indonesia (Indonesia Open) since 1999. We have strong relations with sports governing bodies, the media and commercial sponsors and technical partners to deliver on the bottom line.
We assist all our clients to create super-strategic, high-return, best practice sponsorship to provide a strong, unified vision, across departments and stakeholders, of the broad range of marketing and business objectives that can be achieved through this sponsorship. We also form and maintain strong relationship with players’ managers to source the best players.
GlobalOne currently stages a highly successful and prestigious tournament in Asia – the Maybank Malaysian Open, which is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour providing the event with Official World Ranking status. Our long term partners include Emirates (Official Airline), Carlsberg (Official Beer & Stout), Ricoh (Official Office Equipment), Astro (Official Satellite TV), Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (Official Car), DoubleTree (Official Hotel), 100Plus (Official Isotonic Beverage), Crestlink (Official Apparel), Transview Golf (Official Golf Accessories & Equipment), Mal-Tel (Official Radio & Communications), Spritzer (Official Water), Singleton (Official Whisky), Srixon (Official Range Balls), Havana (Official Cigars).