Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club will host the fourth edition of the CIMB Classic this October, title sponsor CIMB Group confirmed in a statement on Thursday.
The US$7,000,000 tournament, which will feature in the expanded 2013-2014 FedEx Cup calendar, will move out of The Mines Resort & Golf Club, where its first three editions was held.
The announcement comes as Phil Mickelson, winner of 41 PGA TOUR events including four Major championships as well as the the event’s three past champions, Ben Crane, Bo Van Pelt and reigning winner Nick Watney, indicated their commitments to play at the tournament, which will take place at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s acclaimed championship West Course from October 24-27.
“The CIMB Classic is now a marquee event on the PGA TOUR calendar. The event has grown from strength to strength over the last four years. This year it makes its debut as a full-fledged PGA TOUR FedExCup event with an increased field and a new venue. Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club is a venue that will give us the scale we need to take it to the next level,” said CIMB Group chief executive Dato’ Sri Nazir Razak.
“The Mines is a world-class facility and have been great partners over last three years. We extend our greatest thanks and appreciation to their management and staff for all the effort in getting us to where we are today,” said Nazir.
“We are delighted to have our past champions Ben, Bo as well as Nick back and we look forward to seeing Phil tee off in Malaysia for the first time. I am confident that this year’s CIMB Classic will be yet another amazing display of talent,” he added, noting that with official FedExCup points being awarded, more PGA TOUR players are expected to make the trip to Malaysia for this year’s event.
The Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club is no stranger to world-class golf, serving as the host of the European Tour and Asian Tour’s co-sanctioned Maybank Malaysian Open for the past four years as well as the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia since 2010.
“It is a privilege for any golf club to host an international tournament; to host an official PGA TOUR FedExCup event is a truly unique opportunity. We are honoured and our members are in for a great golfing treat with all the excitement around the club. We are extremely pleased to have been entrusted to host such a prestigious event,” said Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club general manger Steven Thielke.
Mickelson, who is no stranger to Asia having competed in Singapore and China previously, will grace Malaysian shores for the first time in his illustrious career.
“I’ve heard great things about Kuala Lumpur and the CIMB Classic from the guys who played there. This will be my first visit to Malaysia, I’m really excited and looking forward to the experience,” said Mickelson.
“The CIMB Classic presents an excellent opportunity for PGA TOUR players to compete in Asia, and it’s part and parcel of promoting the game globally. I think it’s fantastic that the CIMB Classic is part of the FedExCup; it certainly drives the tournament’s competitiveness and encourages the presence of American golfers in the region.”
Players will compete for increased prize money of US$7 million, as compared to US$6.1 million the year before. The tournament, which is also co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, will feature 78 players, with 60 coming from the PGA TOUR, 10 from the Asian Tour and eight sponsor’s exemptions, including two Malaysians.
