Euro pros grab the lion's share

11/01/1999

THE US$750,000 (RM2.85 million) Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open at the
Saujana Golf and Country Club on Feb 4-7 is expected to be an explosive
affair with 65 players from the European PGA Tour teeing off.
So what does that hold for the local boys?
Not much, judging by the 10 entries the Malaysian Professional Golfers
Association (MPGA) will submit based on the 1998 MPGA Order of Merit.
"We would be happy if more than six locals make the cut and if possible,
some of them finish in the top 20," said MPGA general manager Brig Jen (R)
Ron S. Mahendran.
"Even this might be asking too much but since the Open is being held at
the familiar Saujana greens, the Europeans should card good scores."
The Malaysian Open which began in 1962, broke new ground when it became
the fourth leg of the lucrative European Tour.
Until last year, the Open had been part of the Asian Tour.
When the Open was with the Asian Tour, 20 locals enjoyed the benefit of
taking part but with its merger with the European Tour, only 10 will be
allowed.
Ali Kadir, who topped the 1998 MPGA Order Of Merit with wins at the PFP
Classic in Johor Baru and the Hitachi Penang Masters for a total of 1,597
points, is the likely candidate to lead the Malaysian challenge.
But Ali has had some bad luck at the Open and did not make the cut last
year.
P. Gunasegaran, Danny Chia and veteran M. Ramayah are some of the other
notable locals who will vie for the Open glory based on the Order of
Merit.
"To prepare for the Malaysian Open, they have been playing regularly at
Saujana and on Jan 21-24, there will be a pre-qualifying round at Tanjung
Puteri Golf Club in Johor," said Mahendran.
"Only Ali will be absent because of Hari Raya."
After Tanjung Puteri, Gunasegaran, Ramayah and Chia will take part in
the Andersen Consulting Championship in Singapore and on Jan 28-31 most of
the locals will head for Myanmar to take part in an APGA Tour leg.
Organisers of the Open have received favourable replies from some of the
top European Tour players and are still hopeful of securing No 1 Colin
Montgomerie.
Of the "big three" from Europe, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke are sure
bets.
Westwood, winner of the Malaysian Open in 1997, and voted European Tour
Golfer of the Year last year for an excellent seven titles worldwide, and
Clarke, winner of the Benson and Hedges International Open, were the first
to confirm their entries.
India's Jeev Milka Singh has replied favourably while the other likely
names to grace the tournament are Scotland's Sam Torrance and Andrew
Coltart, Ireland's Paul McGinley, Stuart Cage of England and Alexander
Cejka of Germany.
Frankie Minoza will lead Asia's challenge.
(END)