Malaysian Open start for PGM TPC champion

(Clockwise from top left) Nicholas Fung, Sukree Othman, Airil Rizman Zahari, Md Rashid Ismail and R. Nachimuthu are contending for the 2012 Order of Merit title ©PGM
(Clockwise from top left) Nicholas Fung, Sukree Othman, Airil Rizman Zahari, Md Rashid Ismail and R. Nachimuthu are contending for the 2012 Order of Merit title ©PGM

Kuala Lumpur: There will be much to play for at the Maybank Tour Players Championship as the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour winds down its 2012 season at Impian Golf & Country Club this week.

Leveraging on its title sponsorship of the prestigious national Open and in an effort to spark the development of the local professional scene, Maybank will award a sponsor’s invite to the winner of the RM300,000 season finale to enable the worthy winner to gain experience participating in the European and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event.

“Maybank has been committed to promoting golfing excellence in the country ever since we took on the title sponsorship of the MMO in 2006,” said Maybank chairman Tan Sri Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor.

“We have been expanding our involvement progressively and took on the PGM Tour sponsorship to help develop grassroot talent in the country as we believe this opportunity will pave the way for local professionals to gain as much needed experience to compete on a bigger platform,” he concluded.

PGM Tour chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid took the opportunity to express the players’ gratitude for the opportunity extended to them.

“It is heartwarming to have Maybank reward local PGM Tour professionals with a slot in the Maybank Malaysian Open, our countries top international golf tournament. No greater honour can be bestowed on a Malaysian than to represent their country in an international meet and I sincerely hope that whoever secures this honour will do us proud.

“Maybank is to be congratulated and thanked for its generosity and contributions towards developing Malaysia’s golfing talent and extending to them an opportunity of a lifetime.

“The PGM Tour is growing at a rapid rate and I’m delighted with the progress we have made in every aspect of developing well-rounded professionals. I hope that the transparency that the Tour demonstrates will be an impetus for corporate Malaysia to step up and get involved, whether it’s getting behind a golfer and offering sponsorship or taking on the title sponsorship on an event to offer support across the board to our players. We welcome you with open arms and the good that you can bring to the sport.”

The Tour Players’ Championship will play a major factor in deciding the destination of 2012 Order of Merit title with five players led by current Money List leader Nicholas Fung and reigning champion R. Nachimuthu, who will defend the tour championship crown which he won at Kinrara Golf Club last year.