Omega tour to start in Myanmar soon

HONG KONG (Agencies): The 1998 Omega Tour gets underway in just over two weeks time when leading professionals from across the region travel to the ancient capital of Bagan for the US$225,000 London Myanmar Open, the first event on the Asian PGA's 1998 circuit.

With 22 events and approximately $6 million in prize money, the 1998 Omega Tour will travel to 14 different countries before the season-closing Volvo Asian Matchplay Championship in China Taipei in mid-December.

Despite the downturn in Asian economies over the past few months, the schedule for the 1998 Omega Tour offers a number of new events in some exciting new locations.

The first of these, the $300,000 Classic Indian Open, takes place in Calcutta immediately after the London Myanmar Open, and is followed by the $200,000 Orient Masters, another new event and the first of the tournaments that will form a China 'loop' on the 1998 Omega Tour.

Other new events include the $200,000 Macau Open, the first professional strokeplay event to be staged on the Portuguese enclave and already boasting Nick Faldo and Vijay Singh in the line-up, the $250,000 Centennial Cup in the Philippines, and the $200,000 Thailand Open.

"It's no secret that Asian economies have suffered a great deal in the past few months, and in light of this we are extremely pleased to be able to offer our players such a comprehensive and busy schedule for the year ahead on the Omega Tour," said Ramlan Dato Harun, Executive Director Asian PGA.

"In addition to a number of new events, we have also managed to attract a couple more of the national opens in Asia, bringing the number of national opens on the Omega Tour to no fewer than eight."

1998 Omega Tour Schedule (Date; Country; Tournament/Course; Prize money [US$]): March 5 8; Myanmar; London Myanmar Open Bagan G.C.; 225,000 March 12 15; India; Classic Indian Open Royal Calcutta G.C.; 300,000 April 2 5; China; Orient Masters Orient G.C.C., Xiamen; 200,000 April 16 19; Volvo China Open; Shanghai Sunisland International Club; 400,000 April 30 May 3; Macau Open; Macau G.C.C.; 200,000 May 14 17; Guam Open; Leo Palace Resort, Manenggon Hills; 200,000 May 21 24; Korea; Fila Open Course TBC; 200,000 July 9 12; British Open Qualifying; N/A Aug. 6 9; Malaysian Sabah Masters; Shan Shui G.C.C.; 200,000 Aug. 13 16; Volvo Masters of Malaysia; Kelab Golf Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah; 200,000 Aug. 20 23; Ericsson Singapore Open; SAFRA Resort & C.C.; 500,000 Aug. 27 30; Korea Philip Morris Asia Cup; Woo Jeong Hills C.C.; 500,000 Sep. 24 27; Taipei Ta Shee Open; Ta Shee G.C.C.; 250,000 Oct. 1 4; Kuala Lumpur Open; Saujana G.C.C.; 200,000 Oct. 8 11; Singapore PGA Championship; Raffles C.C.; 200,000 Oct. 15 18; Indonesia Asia Pacific Masters #; Bintan Lagoon Golf & Beach Resort; 200,000 Oct. 22 25; ABN-AMRO Pakistan Masters; Karachi G.C.; 200,000 Oct. 29 Nov. 1; India Hero Honda Masters; Delhi G.C.; 200,000 Nov. 5 8; Philippines Centennial Cup; Riviera G.C.C.; 250,000 Nov. 12 15; Thailand Open; Course TBC; 200,000 Nov. 19 22; Indonesia Tugu Pratama PGA Championship; Damai Indah G.C.C.; 200,000 Dec. 3 6; Hong Kong Omega PGA Championship; Clearwater Bay G.C.C.; 500,000 Dec. 9 12; Taipei Volvo Asian Matchplay Championship; Course TBC; 250,000

Notes:

1. The following tournaments are subject to final confirmation:

- Chinese Taipei Open, ROC PGA Championship, Ericsson Philippines Open and Hong Kong Open.

2. Asian PGA reserves the right to alter this schedule at its sole discretion.