Singapore: The infamous Kallang Roar may well come alive this June as event promoter Parallel Media Group attempt to replicate the long-standing football rivalry between Malaysia and Singapore on the golf course.
The inaugural edition of the Causeway Trophy from June 7-9 at the World Classic course of Laguna National Golf & Country Club will pit established professionals and up-and-coming stars from both countries in a three-day contest styled after the Ryder Cup.
Co-sanctioned by the Singapore Professional Golfers’ Association (SPGA) and the Professional Golfers’ Association of Malaysia (PGAM), the event is set to be an annual affair with the dramatic Andy Dye-designed layout hosting the first three editions with a view to alternate the event between the two countries in the future.
SPGA honorary secretary Lip Ooi will captain a strong Lions team including seasoned pair Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing while the Malaysian side will be skippered by veteran professional Nazamuddin Yusof.
The teams will be made up of the top-10 players from the respective Order of Merit standings on the domestic circuits in Malaysia and Singapore with each captains having two additional wild card picks to complete their 12-man squads.
Parallel Media Group chairman David Ciclitira expressed his hope that the tournament will not only capture the hearts and imaginations of golf fans from both nations but also play a crucial role in elevating professional golf here.
““To me, the greatest tournament in golf is the Ryder Cup. I have been promoting golf tournaments since 1987 and it has long been my dream to become involved in an event that generates the same passion and excitement as the Ryder Cup.
“I believe that the Causeway Trophy will tap into the traditional rivalry between Malaysia and Singapore and has the potential to become one of the region’s great golf tournaments,” said Ciclitira.
“The Causeway Trophy is not about the game. It is about strengthening the golfing relationship between the countries,” said SPGA president Murugiah Madasamy.
His Malaysian counterpart Mohd Firuz Jaffril added that the competition provided another channel for players from both countries to show their prowess in an exciting format.
