Carlsberg Malaysian Open Offers Record $1.21m Prize Money
Kuala Lumpur, October 9: The Carlsberg Malaysian Open will offer a record US$1.21 million (RM4.6 million) in total prize money next year, reinforcing its premier status as the richest national Open in Asia.
The prestigious event, jointly sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour and European Tour, will return to Saujana Golf and Country Club and be staged from February 19-22, 2004.
This year's Carlsberg Malaysian Open offered a US$1.1 million prize pot for some of the world's best golfers. Indian star Arjun Atwal held off former US Open winner Retief Goosen of South Africa at the Mines Resort & Golf Club for his second title on the European Tour and fifth on the Asian PGA circuit.
Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Berhad Managing Director, Bjorn Sondenskov said: 'We are delighted to announce an increase of US$110,000 (RM418,000) from this year's prize fund for the 2004 Carlsberg Malaysian Open.
'At US$1.21 million, the event will once again be the richest national Open in Asia and we are confident that the world's finest golfers will make their way to Saujana next year.
'We are truly proud to be associated with Malaysia's national Open. It has a rich tradition, attracts world-class players each year and produces compelling golf for spectators and TV audiences around the globe.'
Saujana's championship course, the Palm Course dubbed 'The Cobra', has hosted the Carlsberg Malaysian Open on five previous occasions, the last being in 2001 when Fijian star Vijay Singh triumphed over Ireland's Padraig Harrington in a sudden-death play-off.
Malaysian Golf Association President Thomas Lee lauded Carlsberg's cash boost. 'It is a wonderful gesture from Carlsberg. When we started our voyage with the Malaysian Open in 1962, the inaugural tournament offered approximately US$6,000 (RM22,500) in total prize money.
'But since Carlsberg took over the title sponsorship of the event in 2001, the Carlsberg Malaysian Open has grown further in stature and prestige. The record prize purse in 2004 will ensure that the tournament continues to attract marquee names to Malaysia and remain firmly on the world's golfing map,' said Lee.
'We are also delighted to announce Saujana as the host venue for the 2004 event. The Palm Course has hosted many great and memorable championships in the past and we can all look forward to yet another world-class affair.'
Star players will flock to Kuala Lumpur for the Carlsberg Malaysian Open, all four rounds of which will be beamed throughout the world to an estimated 250 million homes.
Apart from Singh, Goosen and Harrington, other big name players who have played in the event include Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, John Daly and Bernhard Langer.
Saujana Resort Chairman Tan Sri Razali Abdul Rahman said: 'It is an honour for our club to be selected as the host venue for the Carlsberg Malaysian Open again. The club renovated several of the greens at the Palm Course ahead of the World Amateur Team Championships last year and I believe the new features have greatly enhanced the quality of our championship layout.'
The Carlsberg Malaysian Open has been jointly sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour and European Tour since 1999. A total of 150 players will once again challenge for honours next year.
For more details contact:
Simon Wilson
Media Officer
Asian PGA Tour Limited
(A member of the World Sport Group)
Tel: (65) 6827 9850
Fax: (65) 6827 9875
Visit us at : http://www.asianpgatour.com
The prestigious event, jointly sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour and European Tour, will return to Saujana Golf and Country Club and be staged from February 19-22, 2004.
This year's Carlsberg Malaysian Open offered a US$1.1 million prize pot for some of the world's best golfers. Indian star Arjun Atwal held off former US Open winner Retief Goosen of South Africa at the Mines Resort & Golf Club for his second title on the European Tour and fifth on the Asian PGA circuit.
Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Berhad Managing Director, Bjorn Sondenskov said: 'We are delighted to announce an increase of US$110,000 (RM418,000) from this year's prize fund for the 2004 Carlsberg Malaysian Open.
'At US$1.21 million, the event will once again be the richest national Open in Asia and we are confident that the world's finest golfers will make their way to Saujana next year.
'We are truly proud to be associated with Malaysia's national Open. It has a rich tradition, attracts world-class players each year and produces compelling golf for spectators and TV audiences around the globe.'
Saujana's championship course, the Palm Course dubbed 'The Cobra', has hosted the Carlsberg Malaysian Open on five previous occasions, the last being in 2001 when Fijian star Vijay Singh triumphed over Ireland's Padraig Harrington in a sudden-death play-off.
Malaysian Golf Association President Thomas Lee lauded Carlsberg's cash boost. 'It is a wonderful gesture from Carlsberg. When we started our voyage with the Malaysian Open in 1962, the inaugural tournament offered approximately US$6,000 (RM22,500) in total prize money.
'But since Carlsberg took over the title sponsorship of the event in 2001, the Carlsberg Malaysian Open has grown further in stature and prestige. The record prize purse in 2004 will ensure that the tournament continues to attract marquee names to Malaysia and remain firmly on the world's golfing map,' said Lee.
'We are also delighted to announce Saujana as the host venue for the 2004 event. The Palm Course has hosted many great and memorable championships in the past and we can all look forward to yet another world-class affair.'
Star players will flock to Kuala Lumpur for the Carlsberg Malaysian Open, all four rounds of which will be beamed throughout the world to an estimated 250 million homes.
Apart from Singh, Goosen and Harrington, other big name players who have played in the event include Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, John Daly and Bernhard Langer.
Saujana Resort Chairman Tan Sri Razali Abdul Rahman said: 'It is an honour for our club to be selected as the host venue for the Carlsberg Malaysian Open again. The club renovated several of the greens at the Palm Course ahead of the World Amateur Team Championships last year and I believe the new features have greatly enhanced the quality of our championship layout.'
The Carlsberg Malaysian Open has been jointly sanctioned by the Asian PGA Tour and European Tour since 1999. A total of 150 players will once again challenge for honours next year.
For more details contact:
Simon Wilson
Media Officer
Asian PGA Tour Limited
(A member of the World Sport Group)
Tel: (65) 6827 9850
Fax: (65) 6827 9875
Visit us at : http://www.asianpgatour.com