KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that Malaysia will be hosting the prestigious golf competition, the PGA Tour, next year.
"It was my childhood ambition to see the PGA Tour brought to Malaysia and now it will become a reality...and today, I am proud to announce that next year Malaysia will be hosting the PGA Tour.
"We will be the first nation in the South East Asian region to host such a prestigious golf competition. It is a great honour to be given the opportunity," said Najib in his speech at the official launch of the Asia Pacific Golf Classic Malaysia, here Monday.
The inaugural tournament will be held at the Mines Resort and Golf Club in Seri Kembangan, near here.
At the ceremony, Najib also announced that the golf competition offers a total prize money of US$6 million and the winner of the competition will walk home with US$1 million.
"I was not quite sure then that it could happen and I didn't know what it takes to be able to host the PGA Tour event in Malaysia.
Because it certainly requires a full agreement of the PGA Tour. Fortunately, we have Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, an entrepreneur who has the courage and vision to do things that are difficult or almost impossible to do.
"The competition (the Asia Pacific Golf Classic) will also be the largest prize purse tournament in South East Asia. And, there is a commitment in place to guarantee the growth of the purse," said Najib.
He noted that the competition would further boost Malaysia's revenue through tourism and enhancing the country's standing in the international sporting arena.
"It will be a boost and very positive. It will make the Mines golf course more popular as one of the major golf courses in the world. It will also make Malaysia as the favourite golfing destination," said Najib.
He said that over the four-day competition, over 400 million households and in 200 countries around the world would be watching the prestigious competition and this would be a good avenue not only for golf but also Malaysian tourism.
The inaugural Asia Pacific Golf Classic Malaysia will feature an international field of 40 players competing.
The top 25 players from the PGA Tour's final FedExCup standings will automatically qualify, as will the top-10 available players from the Asian Tour's Order of Merit and at least one Malaysian professional will be guaranteed a place in the field.
source: http://www.bernama.com/
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