Lee gives locals added incentive

09/10/1998

WHAT a carrot. But the challenge that lies ahead for the Malaysian pros
taking part in the Kuala Lumpur Open at the Mines Resort beginning next
Thursday may be too great.
Country Heights chairman Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew has thrown down a challenge
to local pros saying that VIP treatment at the resort will be given to
whoever lifts the title.
Lee challenged old hand M. Ramayah: "If you win the KL Open, I will give
you full privileges whenever you step into the Mines Resort City, the
Palace of Golden Horses and the golf club."
The Mines Resort City is an exclusive golfing experience and according
to Asian PGA executive director Ramlan Harun, to stage the KL Open there,
they had to get invited first.
The offer was made to spur the local pros, who have not won an APGA
event for the past four years but it might just remain an offer, judging
by the entries for the KL Open.
On the list are no less than seven Tour winners led by defending
champion Charlie Wi of South Korea, who is currently 28th on the Tour
Order of Merit.
Firoz Ali, winner of the Classic Indian Open, Chawalit Plaphol, champion
of the Orient Masters, and Japan's Satoshi Oide are just a few of the
prominent names teeing off.
Ramayah, Ali Kadir, P. Gunasegaran and Danny Chia are the best in
Malaysia, but to secure the title, they have to play above and beyond
themselves.
The Mines Resort City is also the venue for the World Cup of Golf next
year and the KL Open will serve as a familiarisation course for the
locals.
This year, the World Cup will be held at the Gulf Harbour in Auckland
and Malaysia will be represented by Ali and Gunasegaran.
The Malaysian PGA selected the duo based on this year's Order of Merit
which Ramayah claimed he did not know about.
"If I had known, then I would have played at least two of the domestic
events," said Ramayah who did not take part in any of the four local
tournaments this year.
Plans are also afoot to tie up the KL Open with the European Tour.
"Yes, we have plans for a tie-up but it is only at the discussion
stages. We are looking at a number of events to co-sanction with the
European Tour in the near future," said Ramlan.
The purse for the KL Open is US$200,000 (RM760,000) but to be sanctioned
by the European Tour, the purse must be at least US$750,000.
(END)