Always attracts the best..

THE US$2.75 million Maybank Malaysian Open has never failed to attract the best in the world, and today will be no different as world number three Luke Donald will be among the title contenders at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
  The Englishman will be making a debut appearance at the Malaysian Open and is in fine form after finishing tied fourth in his title defense of the Tampa Bay Championship in the United States on Sunday.
  He is also the first man to win the money lists in Europe and US in 2011. Having arrived Malaysia on Tuesday, the Englishman is eager to overcome jet-lag to claim his first title of the year.
   Then there is Asia's best Gaganjeet Bhullar, who made a brave final round charge at the Avantha Masters in India on Sunday but finished second. However, his result propelled him to the top of the Order of Merit and the four-time Asian Tour winner is among an elite cast of Indian stars this week and is highly tipped to contend for the title.
  Malaysia's most successful golfer Danny Chia summed up the situation when he said: "The Malaysian Open has always attracted top-10 golfers over the years and even though we Malaysians have never won the title, it is our only chance of playing alongside the best and also for the local fans to watch their idols playing in front of them, instead on on television."
   So, as the Malaysian golfers, 16 professionals and six amateurs, take a back-seat, the focus will be on the likes of South African Charl Schwartzel, who will be making his third straight appearance at the Maybank Malaysian Open. His best result in the event was sixth in last year’s edition. He is riding a fine form with three top-10 results albeit without a victory so far this season. Something he is eager to change this week.
   And the Open is never a dull moment for the Thais' who have the likes of Thongchai Jaidee who won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, but the veteran will find the going tough in his chase to win the title and move closer to the top-50 in the world from his present 59th, which he needs to enter by the first week of April to qualify for the Masters Tournament.
  Then there is Thaworn Wiratchant, ranked 81st in the world and has a wealth of experience playing in Malaysia. His best result in the Malaysian Open was tied eighth in the 2004 edition.
  Padraig Harrington of Ireland is a three-time Major champion but will play this week without his trusted driver. However he has a new pair of glasses which he hopes will give him a clear vision of the Seagram trophy which awarded to the champion.
   He has a good record in Malaysia where he won the 2010 Iskandar Johor Open on the Asian Tour and finished tied 13th at the 2006 Maybank Malaysian Open which was also staged at the Kuala Lumpur GCC.    He was also runner-up behind Vijay Singh of Fiji in 2001.
  Star Players Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Matteo Manassero and Charl Schwartzel are already worthy winners when they teed-off in a once-in-a-lifetime “Star Experience for Charity” golf game as part of a charity initiative for the Maybank Malaysian Open.
  They managed to collect a total of RM40,000 and the amount was matched with another RM40,000 by Maybank’s charitable arm, Maybank Foundation making the total RM80,000.
  The Open has produced many surprise winners over the years, and it would be a real surprise if any of the 22 Malaysians even come close to the top-10 on Sunday.