Singapore: The stage is set for what is expected to be a pulsating contest as top professionals from Malaysia and Singapore collide at the inaugural Prudential Causeway Trophy beginning Friday.
The three-day event, co-sanctioned by the Singapore Professional Golfers’ Association (SPGA) and Professional Golf Association Malaysia (PGAM), will be based on a format similar to the Ryder Cup, where the teams will go head-to-head in the foursomes format on day one, fourball format on day two before culminating in a singles showdown on the final day.
SPGA honorary secretary Lip Ooi will captain Team Singapore while Malaysia will be led by Chong Chee Ming at the challenging World Classic course at Laguna National Golf and Country Club.
“Chemistry is always the most important thing to me and if it doesn’t work, no matter what game you put them together, they won’t click and they won’t bring out the best in each other,” said Ooi.
“I’m really excited to see what’s going to happen this weekend. It’ll be a great match between Singapore and Malaysia as the magnitude of this event already speaks volume by itself,” added the Singapore captain.
Traditional rivalry in sports between the two countries has always been strong and Chong believes the Prudential Causeway Trophy will offer the perfect opportunity for Malaysian golfer to stake their place as the kingpins of golf in this inaugural event.
“I’m the anchor of the team and I’m very confident that we can pull off a victory for Malaysia. All my players have either won or come close to winning a tournament previously in the past couple of months,” said Chong.
“The draw looks great. There’ll be some old camaraderie and rivalry and it’ll be a great day. I can see one or two matches coming up to the last couple of holes already.”
Singapore’s number one and three-time Asian Tour winner Mardan Mamat will be paired with Koh Dengshan and they will face the Malaysian duo of S. Murthy and S. Sivachandhran, the 2010 Asian Development Tour Order of Merit winner.
“We’ve been practising a lot together and we can definitely click on the golf course. When it comes down to a team event like this, I’m not playing for myself anymore. We all play together as one and earn the points for the team,” said Mardan.
Danny Chia, who holds the distinction of being the first Malaysian winner on the Asian Tour when he won the Taiwan Open back in 2002, will team up with burly Mohammad Rizal Amin as they go head-to-head with Lam Chih Bing and Lam Zhiqun.
“This will be fun. I wish we can know the course a little better but Rizal has been playing well recently, so we should stand a good chance tomorrow,” said Chia.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors for bringing all of us together again. It has been a long time since we last played in a team event like this so I’m really looking forward to it.”
