Fewer Euros makes it easier for Asians

29/01/1999

THE US$750,000 Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open will only feature five of
the top 20 European players at Saujana Golf and Country Club.
This must certainly be good news for the Asian pros who are gunning for
the ticket to play in the European PGA Tour.
Asian PGA executive director Ramlan Harun had announced that any Asian
player who wins the tournament will get a two-year exemption to the
European PGA Tour.
He will receive playing rights for the remainder of the 1999 season and
bypass the gruelling qualifying school for 2000 and 2001.
The five European Order of Merit golfers confirmed fer the Open starting
next Thursday are Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke (No 2), Lee Westwood of
England (No 3), Andrew Coltart of Scotland (No 9), Sam Torrance of
Scotland (No 14) and Robert Karlson of Sweden (No 17).
"The entries close tomorrow (today) and to date, we have not received
any new entries from Europe," said a member of the organising committee
yesterday.
The leading Asian players are Kang Wook-Soon of South Korea, top money
winner on last year's Asian PGA circuit, and Japanese Tour regulars
Frankie Minoza of the Philippines and Myanmar's Zaw Moe.
China's No 1 Zhang Lianwei and Thai stars Pryad Marksaeng and Chawalit
Plaphol are also capable of winning the Open.
Although the prize money has been increased, with this year's winner
taking home US$121,125, it has failed to attract big names like Scotland's
Colin Montgomerie and South African Ernie Els.
Last year winner's purse was only US$30,000 and the star attractions
were three members of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team - Westwood,
Clarke and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark.
But Asian specialist Ed Fryatt of England eventually pipped Westwood to
the trophy.
In the absence of the big names, India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who finished
joint second with American Scott Dunlap at the recent South African Open,
Asian PGA stalwarts Fran Quinn of the US and South African Nico van
Rensburg, who finished in the top 10 bracket in the South African PGA, are
also in with a chance to win.
(END)