Major Champions Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen are the first star names confirmed for the inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia, which will be held at Royal Selangor Golf Club, in Kula Lumpur.
The duo, who between them have accrued three Majors, will be amongst the main attractions when the new tournament takes its place on The 2016 European Tour International Schedule, from February 18-21.
Oosthuizen has previously tasted success in Kuala Lumpur, having won the Maybank Malaysian Open there in 2012 – one week after the South African lost a play-off to Bubba Watson in the Masters Tournament.
The 2010 Open Champion, who is currently in fourth place in The Race to Dubai, will therefore be hoping to revive his good memories of Malaysia’s capital city when he tees up in the US$ 3million tournament.
Oosthuizen said: “I’m really looking forward to coming to Royal Selangor Golf Club next year to play in the first Maybank Championship Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur is one of my favourite cities and I have some great memories of my win there in 2012 and my runner-up finish last year, so I’m excited about coming back and I’m sure this new tournament will be a great success.”
Kaymer has also found Kuala Lumpur a happy hunting ground in the past, with consecutive top ten finishes in the Maybank Malaysia Open in 2011 and 2012, so the German should feel at home at Royal Selangor, one of the city’s most historic courses.
Kaymer said: “I’m very excited about playing in the Maybank Championship Malaysia at Royal Selangor Golf Club next February. Kuala Lumpur is a great city and I had some good results there in the Malaysian Open in 2011 and 2012, so I’m looking forward to coming back and playing in this new tournament.
Keith Waters, The European Tour’s Chief Operating Officer, welcomed the news at a press conference held to announce the participation of Kaymer and Oosthuizen.
He said: “We look forward to working closely with Maybank and Global One to ensure that the first edition of the Maybank Championship Malaysia is a great success. For many years now, Maybank have been great supporters of both The European and Asian Tours, and indeed of the game of golf across Asia.
“So we thank them for their continued commitment, as well as Global One for the great job they do in promoting professional tournaments. With the likes of Anirban Lahiri and Kiradech Aphibarnrat making great strides, golf in Asia is currently in very good health and I am sure this new tournament will continue to grow the game across the region.
“To have two Major Champions in Martin Kaymer and Louis Oosthuizen committed to the Maybank Championship Malaysia is a real statement of intent, and I’m sure there will be more high profile players keen to follow their lead.”
Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor, Chairman of Maybank, said: “Golf tournaments in the region have reached a pivotal point as the quality of the organisation, courses and star players have grown over the years. As a long-time supporter and sponsor of Malaysia’s leading golf event over the past decade, Maybank has been on the forefront of that evolution.
“Today, we are beginning the next stage of that growth as we focus our attention on creating a Championship that seeks to elevate the entire field of play, grow and sustain the attention of spectators from across the region, and ensure that every player is given the same respect and attention as would have been reserved for star or headline players in years past.”
Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, President of Royal Selangor Golf Club, said: “As one of the oldest golf courses in the country, we are pleased to host one of the youngest championships in this part of the region. It will indeed be exciting to have more than thirty nationalities competing at a very high level at the Royal Selangor Golf Club amongst the distinguished members and guests from all over the world that will be at our historic club.”
Co-sanctioned by The European Tour, the Asian Tour, the Professional Golf of Malaysia Tour (PGM Tour) and the Professional Golfers Association of Malaysia (PGAM), the tournament will feature 67 players from each of The European and Asian Tours, with the remainder of the field made up of the following:
• The top ten from the Order of Merit of the Professional Golf Of Malaysia Tour (PGM) and members of the Professional Golfers Association of Malaysia (PGAM);
• Five places will be given to ASEAN Professionals based on the Asian Tour Order Of Merit, Asian Development Tour Order Of Merit and National Professional Golfers Association of ASEAN Countries.
• An additional two spots will be given to Malaysian professionals.
• One place will be accorded to the top player on the Middle East North African Tour (MENA).
• Two spots are reserved for players who are not members of The European and Asian Tours.
• The final two places will be awarded to the highest-ranked Malaysian in the Amateur World Ranking, and the winner of the Asian Pacific Amateur Masters.
Tan Sri Megat added: “We are working with the PGM Tour and PGAM; The Asian Tour and The European Tour; and our local Ministry of Youth and Sports through the Sports Commissioners office to ensure that every player, visitor and fan that visits us receives the best possible experience.
“This includes efforts to enable the participation of as many appropriately qualified professional golfers from as many countries in the region as possible. It also hinges on the Championship having world-class winning talent that are already household names globally and local favourites across the 156-man field. By doing so, we ensure that the entire field of play is of an order of quality that is entirely elevated as compared to focusing all of our attention, efforts and resources on a handful of star players.”
The event will also provide a significant platform for Asian players to gain valuable Official World Ranking points, and stake a claim for a place at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “On behalf of our players, I would like to extend our fullest appreciation to Maybank for its vision and commitment to stage a golf tournament that will further invigorate the development of professional golf at the highest level in Asia.
“While the top players from the Asian Tour will enjoy the opportunity to compete against the stars from The European Tour, we must laud Maybank for including leading ASEAN and Malaysian golfers to be a part of what will be truly a world-class golf championship. Malaysia has long been an important market for the Asian Tour and we look forward to working closely with the PGM and PGAM as well for the betterment of the game in the country and across Asia.”
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