Malaysian Open prize purse tops million dollar mark
Malaysian Open prize purse tops million dollar mark
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Prize money at next year's Malaysian Open will total US$ 1 million, the first time that a national open in Asia has hit the million dollar mark.
The Malaysian Open has been the richest national open in the region for several years but prize money at the 2002 event, jointly sanctioned by the Asian and European PGA tours for the fourth year running, will reach an unprecedented level thanks to a cash boost from sponsors Carlsberg.
"For the Malaysian Open to become the first national open in Asia to offer one million dollars is something that the Malaysian Golf Association is very proud of. The increase speaks volumes for the stature of our flagship tournament," said Malaysian Golf Association President Thomas Lee.
The tournament will be the second richest on the Asian circuit -- after the BMW Asian Open, which makes its debut in Taiwan in November with a prize fund of $1.5 million.
Royal Selangor, the home of the Malaysian Open from its 1962 inception until the early 1990s, will host next year's tournament for the first time since 1994.
This year's title was won by Fiji's Vijay Singh, who defeated Ireland's Padraig Harrington in a play-off in February.
Taiwan Open
In Taipei, Taiwan, Scott Hoch, one of the 12 Americans who will do battle with Europe's best in next month's Ryder Cup, is the star attraction for the $300,000 Taiwan Open, which tees off here on Thursday.
The 45-year-old, currently enjoying one of the best periods of his career, is something of an old Asia hand having won the Korean Open in 1990 and 1991 as well as three titles in Japan in the 1980's.
He will be looking to put that experience to good use at the Sunrise Golf and Country Club, as well as fine-tuning his game for the September 28-30 showdown at The Belfry in Sutton- Coldfield, England.
Hoch booked his automatic place on the US team with victories in the Western Open and Greater Greensboro Classic titles this year, bringing his tally of US tour titles to ten.
That wealth of experience means he will start as a strong favourite to add another star name to the Taiwan Open trophy after Vijay Singh's play-off victory last year.
South Korea's Charlie Wi, the current leader of the Asian PGA tour's order of merit, and second placed Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand are also competing this week.
Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, the winner of the last two events on the tour - the Singapore Open and Malaysian Masters -- and India's Jeev Milkha Singh are also expected to challenge.