ASEAN category to bolster regional talent and provide global platform for players
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 February 2019 - European Tour legends Thomas Bjørn and Miguel Ángel Jiménez have confirmed their participation in this year’s Maybank Championship, adding quality to the marquee field in Malaysia.
The duo’s entry also comes alongside Maybank’s announcement of a five-strong ASEAN line-up joining the Asian and European Tour-sanctioned event at Saujana Golf & Country Club in Shah Alam, Selangor from March 21-24. These players are appropriately qualified, based on their overall ranking on the Asian Tour, Asian Development Tour and their Official World Golf Ranking.
The ASEAN quintet comprises Myanmar’s Ye Htet Aung, Danny Masrin of Indonesia, Singaporean Johnson Poh, and the Philippine duo of Angelo Que and Juvic Pagunsan.
The entries of Bjørn and Jiménez add greater depth to an already formidable field that includes four-time Major Champion Ernie Els of South Africa and 2020 European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington.
A 15-time winner on the European Tour, Bjørn is riding the crest of a wave of success, having led Team Europe to victory over Team Asia in the EurAsia Cup at Glenmarie, Shah Alam in January 2018 followed by their famous triumph over Team United States in the 2018 Ryder Cup in France last September.
Jiménez, widely known as the ‘most interesting golfer in the world’ because of his antics on and off the course, has 21 European Tour titles to his credit.
Together they will bring heightened competition and excitement to the international field in the fourth edition of the US$3 million tournament.
Commenting on the new additions to the field, Maybank Group President and CEO, Datuk Abdul Farid Alias said, “The inclusion of Thomas Bjørn and Miguel Angel Jiménez is exciting news for golfing fans and will certainly add to the stiff competition expected this year. So too is the ASEAN category, which we see as an extension of our commitment to support the growth of local talent in the region.”
“We hope the opportunity provided to the five ASEAN players in particular will enable them to lift their game further, and inspire even more young talents in the region to aim to be among the world’s best. We wish them and the rest of the field all the very best in the tournament,” added Datuk Abdul Farid.
The Maybank Championship, whose tagline is ‘Where the Best Meet’ is part of the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai and will feature no fewer than 15 of the world’s top-150 players. It will also boast star attractions from other nations including Australia, China, India, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, and Thailand.
Defending champion and reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, Shubhankar Sharma of India, top-ranked Malaysian Gavin Green, Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, and Thailand’s Poom Saksansin are among the other names who have confirmed their participation in the Championship.
The Maybank Championship, which is Malaysia’s premier golf tournament, is set to have a few more star players added to the line-up in the next couple of weeks or so.
For further details on upcoming events and other information related to the Maybank Championship, please log on to: www.maybankchampionship.com.my