Kuala Lumpur, 12 April 2011 - April 12 2011
Kuala Lumpur, 12 April 2011 – European Tour’s Matteo Manassero and Rhys Davies and Asian Tour’s Thongchai Jaidee took time off their busy practicing schedule to share their thoughts on their game plan just two days before the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 takes flight.
17-year old Italian sensation Manassero is in Malaysia for the first time. .Manassero’s had a stellar run in his career thus far as the youngest winner on the European Tour’s history when he captured the Castello Masters Costa Azahar last year but he still finds the playing field to be tough with the likes of recently crowned Masters champ, Charl Schwartzel in the mix.
“It’s great for the tournament. It’s good to see three Major champions and that guy dominated the Masters and just fell back in the last round all here. It’s great for the tournament to have those four players competing here and it will make it tougher for everybody.”
Welshman Davies who claimed his maiden European Tour title at the 2010 Trophee Hassan II, triumphed at the SWALEC Wales Challenge in 2009 to secure his first professional title. The 26-year old came close to lifting the Malaysian Open trophy last year and to claiming his second career title. Davies shares the sentiments of other golfers regarding the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s West Course.
“It’s tough and the golf course is hilly, so it does make conditions difficult but at the same time I’ve played in these conditions quite a few times before and numerous times on the Asian Tour so I’ve gained experience from that and hopefully I can use that to my advantage this week.”
Three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Thongchai who recorded stunning back-to-back wins at the 2004 and 2005 Malaysian Open is back for another try this year. Thongchai recently endured a back injury has been working on his swing and putting. The Asian favourite also considers Malaysia as his second home and feels proud to be a part of the 50th edition of the Malaysian Open.
“It will be a great celebration this year because we have a strong field and have a course that’s in great condition. There’s a strong field of players this week like Rory McIlroy and Charl Schwartzel. It is good for golf in Malaysia because it promotes the game.”
This year, the tournament reaches a milestone as it celebrates its 50th edition as some of the world’s best golfers gather to compete at the renowned Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club from the 14th to 17th April 2011.
Making history as the first ever co-sanctioned tournament in Asia by both the European and Asian Tours in 1999, the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 will feature top players from the rankings of both these world-leading circuits to make up the 156-player line-up.
Points earned at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 will go towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and will also add to the player’s 2011 Race to Dubai Ranking, granting them a chance to qualify for the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The 50th edition of the Maybank Malaysian Open will see a dazzling display of golf as our Malaysian professionals compete with some of the world’s best players for the championship title. With a USD 2.5 million prize purse up on offer, spectators can expect an exciting tournament this April. The four-day co-sanctioned event will take place at the West Course of the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from 14th - 17th April 2011.
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