March 7: Habitat for Humanity Standings leader Shubhankar Sharma of India will make his debut at the 2018 Masters Tournament this April after receiving an invitation to play in the year’s first Major. 

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a superb last four months where he won the Joburg Open in South Africa in December and the Maybank Championship in Malaysia in February. Both events were sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

He also qualified for the WGC-Mexico Championship last week by leading the European Tour’s Race to Dubai. It was a remarkable debut for Sharma as he led in the second and third rounds by two shots before finishing in tied ninth position.

His fighting spirit won the hearts of many including Phil Mickelson, who played in the final group with Sharma in Mexico before going on to win the tournament, Indian legends Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri.

“Golf is a global game, and throughout our history we have extended invitations to deserving international players not otherwise qualified,” Augusta National and Masters chairman Fred Ridley said in a prepared statement. “As his results have proven, Shubhankar Sharma is a remarkable young player, and we look forward to welcoming him to Augusta National in April.”

Sharma will become the fourth Indian player to compete in the Masters, following Singh, Atwal and Lahiri.

Players who do not qualify for this year’s Masters can still get in by winning a PGA Tour event that awards a full-points allocation for the Tour Championship or by being in the top 50 of the World Golf Ranking published the week prior to the Masters.

Ends.

April 7: Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant hopes to defy the odds by becoming the first Thai golfer to play in all four rounds at the Masters Tournament when he makes his debut next week.
The 46-year-old  veteran star was invited by Augusta National Golf Club to play in the year’s opening Major following a stellar season in 2012 where he won three times and became the oldest player to win the Order of Merit on the region’s premier circuit.
He follows the footsteps of countrymen Sukree Onsham, Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng to tee up alongside the world’s elite at the fabled tournament but hopes to do what the trio failed to achieve – qualify for the weekend rounds.
“I’ll try to make the cut … that would be the goal. If I don’t make it, then I want to ensure that I had played my best. The players at the Masters are all good players and it is a very challenging golf course,” said Thaworn, whose previous Major appearance was at the 2006 British Open where he finished tied 31^st.
The unorthodox swinging Thai made an impression at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship in Doral last month, shooting early rounds of 69s to feature on the leaderboard before slipping back to tied 53rd position over the weekend.
As he is not amongst the longest of hitters on Tour, Thaworn has put in the extra effort in recent weeks with his long irons in an attempt to master the par-72, 7,435 yard Augusta National but knows the tricky greens will pose the main test.
“From what I’ve seen, you have to be good in every department, especially around the greens which are very fast and tricky. I am sure it will be really challenging but I am looking forward to my first trip there,” said Thaworn, who is known as a short-game wizard in Asia.
“I will listen to Prayad’s advice as he has been to the Masters. Robert Garrigus and Zach Johnson also gave me some advice when I played with them at the recent Cadillac Championship.”
Since earning the special invitation to compete in his first Masters, Thaworn, who is ranked 81^st in the world, has been inundated with congratulatory messages, advice and offers from caddies to carry his bag at Augusta National.
“Some of the advice has been very helpful. But I will adjust my routine accordingly. If I miss the cut, I may get criticism but if I make the cut, the story may change. This is natural. I accept that. And I will focus on my routine rather than thinking about what others might think. This is my chance of being in a wonderful event so I will spend as long as I can at the tournament and I will try my best to play four days.”
He hopes his appearance at the Masters will inspire other young Asian Tour upcoming stars to play their way to Augusta National.
“This is good for me and certainly good for many other players who want to play in the Masters and the other Majors. If I can make it at my age, the younger players will have a chance as well,” he said.
Ends.
About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10^th season. As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia.  This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Saxo Capital Markets (Official Stats Partner), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf
 

New Delhi, April 7: Australian Wade Ormsby claimed a nerve-jangling maiden Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open India to deny Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit from a historic victory at the Delhi Golf Club on Sunday.
Ormsby overcame a disastrous triple bogey on the third hole to shoot a final round one-under-par 71 to win the US$300,000 tournament by one stroke from the 56-year-old Boonchu, who was bidding to become the oldest winner on the region’s premier Tour.
The wire-to-wire win earned Ormsby’s the winner’s cheque of US$54,000 and moved him up to eighth place on the Order of Merit.
Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand.
Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing, who led briefly during the final round, settled for third place after carding a level par 72 while Shiv Kapur’s search for a first win on his home course was extended after he bogeyed two of his last three holes to finish three shots behind Ormsby in fourth position.Ormsby, who held at least a share of the lead from the opening day, birdied the second hole but stumbled badly with a seven at the next hole.
However, the Aussie showed great character by shooting birdies on the fifth, seventh and eighth holes to stay in the title hunt.
He bogeyed the 12^th and needed an 18-foot birdie conversion on 17 which proved decisive as Boonchu’s title challenge faded with a bogey on 16.
“It means so much. I’ve played tournaments worldwide but to finally get a win in Asia is fantastic. I felt pretty good on the fourth tee but I just put my head down and tried to get down into it and birdied the fifth,” said Ormsby.
“I was so disappointed in Malaysia and Chiangmai as I played well on both weeks but didn’t finish them off. I knew there was a win in there for me and I am glad I came here,” added the Australian who finished tied-33^rd and tied-20^th in Malaysia and Chiangmai respectively.
Boonchu, who was bidding to become the oldest winner in the Asian Tour history, seemed on course to create history but a costly bogey on the 16^th put paid to all hopes.
“Conditions were really tough out there the entire week but to be able to play the way I did even at 56 years old really says a lot about my game,” said Boonchu.
“I’ve shown that I still have what it takes to compete against the younger boys but I just ran out of steam towards the end. But overall, it has been a good week and all I can say is never write off an old man!” smiled Boonchu.
Despite finishing third, Lam found the much needed self-belief again. The 36-year-old was seeking to end his five-year title drought and losing his Tour card last season was a rude awakening for him.
“Maybe losing my Tour card last year was a blessing in disguise as it was a wake-up call. I reassessed my game and took pains to put in those extra hours in getting back my best form,” said Lam.
Lam Chih Bing of Singapore.
“Just being back in contention means a lot and more than anything else, I’ve learnt to believe in myself again” added Lam
As the top-three players at the Panasonic Open India, Ormsby, Boonchu and Lam will be extended invitations to the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation, in Osaka, Japan in September.
The Panasonic Open India was beamed live throughout four days on the Asian Tour Media’s global television platform which reaches over 200 countries and 650 million homes.
Leading scores after round 4 of the Panasonic Open India 2013 being played at the par 72, 6935 Yards Delhi Golf Club course (a- denotes amateur):
279 – Wade ORMSBY (AUS) 67-67-74-71.
280 – Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA) 70-68-73-69.
281 – LAM Chih Bing (SIN) 67-69-73-72.
282 – Shiv KAPUR (IND) 71-68-72-71.
283 – S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 69-69-77-68, Anura ROHANA (SRI) 71-72-71-69, Digvijay SINGH (IND) 71-71-71-70.
284 – Richard LEE (CAN) 72-68-77-67, Shamim KHAN (IND) 73-75-67-69.
285 – Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 73-73-71-68, SIDDIKUR  (BAN) 71-71-74-69, Manav JAINI (IND) 75-70-68-72.
Selected scores
286 – Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 73-72-67-74.
289 – Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 72-73-73-71.
Ends.
About the Panasonic Open India 2013
The Panasonic Open India, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), will return for its third edition from April 4 to April 7. Local hero Digvijay Singh will defend the title at the US$300,000 event held at the Delhi Golf Club. The Asian Tour event will be title sponsored by Panasonic India Pte Ltd and supported by Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism and the Government of India. The Tournament will be played once again at the Host Venue Delhi Golf Club.  Other sponsors include. Homestead (Platinum Sponsor) Crowne Plaza Today New Delhi Okhla (Official Hotel), Bentbrass (Official Apparel), Srixon (Official Ball), 4moles.com (Digital Media sponsor), GolfPlus Monthly (Magazine sponsor) and Inetol Headwear.
The tournament is organized and promoted by the Asian Tour. Get the latest news and tournament information on www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com and www.4moles.com. You can also follow us on www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf and www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf
About Panasonic India
Panasonic makes available in India its wide range of consumer electronics and home appliances like LCD & Plasma TVs, DVD players, home theatre systems, cameras, camcorders, car audio systems, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, automatic cookers, vacuum cleaners and the like. The Company has a workforce of about 12,650 in India and estimated to do a turnover of Rs 10,000 crore in FY 2012. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand in India, please visit http://panasonic.co.in.
About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10th season. As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Canon (Official Imaging Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Saxo Capital Markets (Official Statistics Partner), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf
 

S.S.P. Chawrasia (Ind)

I’ve already won twice and I’m trying my best to win for the third consecutive time. I’m comfortable with the conditions in my country, which may explain why I’ve been playing well in the tournaments here.

All the players on Tour were saying, if the tournament is held in Indian, I’ll probably win it. They asked me what my secret is, but I told them that it is no secret; I simply play good golf!

I’ve last lost four times narrowly at the Indian Open, perhaps, that I have won twice just to balance things out. I won last year, so obviously that strategy worked. So, I’ll bring the same strategy to this year’s tournament.

I played well in the Indian Open for the last few years, which is why I can be in the top 10 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit! But on a more serious note, I’ve made recent some changes to my game plans to help me stay even more consistent. So, let’s see how it goes.

Shubhankar Sharma (Ind)

I’m really happy with what has happened to me so far. Obviously, the Asian Tour played a big role, as the Tour has given me the opportunity to compete and helped me develop my game to my current level. 

I think in golf, anything is possible, you have to play well for four days, you can definitely compete with the best. I know that if I play my best, I’m good for a top five, or even a win at the Masters Tournament. I’m really looking forward to it.

I was quite tough on myself throughout the flight back to India, as I didn’t finish the tournament the way I want it, but as soon as I got the call, all the pain got washed away. I’m really happy to be able to play in the Masters Tournament. It’s every golfer’s dream to play in the Masters, and I’m no exception.

Although, I have to say that The Open is my favourite Major, although you cannot compare Major tournaments. The Masters Tournament just have a particular feel to it, though. There is no player in particular that I want to be paired with. I’m just happy to be able to be part of the tournament. I don’t think I’ll be awestruck by any player. I’m looking forward to playing at the Amen Corner. Every hole has their own challenges.

For a start, I wasn’t even sure if I was even going to play in the Joburg Open. Even after my win, I was just trying to play as much as I can. I wanted to show everyone that my win in South Africa wasn’t a fluke, then I managed to win the Maybank Championship, which is obviously good. It has been a big learning experience for me, as I was playing at new courses beyond Asia.

I started with PGTI (Professional Golf Tour of India) and I was with the Asian Tour for the past three years. The progression has been great. It is tough to move out of India and compete internationally, as the conditions are different and you are away from your loved ones. It took me a few years. It was only in 2016 when I got my full Asian Tour card. I played pretty well last year and I’m very happy to cap off the year with a win. I’m very thankful to have the chance to play on the Asian Tour.

I’m glad that I’m quite young. I’m not tired of playing golf. In fact, I’m quite tired of all the off-field commitments, but that’s part of being a professional golfer. Overall, it’s not a bad problem to have.

The Indian Open is very close to my heart. I witness every Indian Open before I turned professional. It has always been a dream for me if I can win it. I’m really looking forward to it. The field is great and the course is well maintained. Winning the All-Indian Amateur is fantastic, it nothing beats winning the Indian Open. 

I don’t think I’m the top contender, as I haven’t won the tournament before. After last week, I got a lot of attention. Playing here actually has less pressure on him compared to last week, because I’m playing here at home.

The toughest competition here at the Hero Indian Open is the golf course. It’s about managing yourself out there. Not a lot of players will finish under par this week. The course is player tougher compared to last year and it’s going to be a test of patience. A lot of great players are playing this week. So, may the best golfer win!

Anirban Lahiri (Ind)

The Indian Open is always a very special event, for me personally and the other Indian players here. Outside of the prestige of the event, it’s also a good opportunity for the young unheralded Indians to make a splash and secure their cards in Asia. For the two of us, we always look forward to it, we’ve done well here. I think all eyes are going to be on SSP as well as he’s played the last couple of years. So yeah. I’m looking forward to it. Like you mentioned, I think this is the best Indian field we’ve ever had. Also, the most in-form Indian field that we’ve ever had. Obviously, with Shubhankar playing the way he is, Khalin (Joshi) recently had a top 10 in Malaysia. It is really great to see, so I’m hoping that the Indians have a great week.

This tournament brings back great memories. In 2009, the second year of the Asian Tour, I shot 64 on Sunday to finish third, which secured my card for the following year. The rest, as they say, is history.

The course is in great condition. It is better compared to last year, in general. The changes in the back nine may pose a challenge, especially if the wind picks up. The challenge out there will probably be the greens. If you land your ball in the wrong position, you will probably suffer. But it’s going to be the same for everyone. So, I’ll just aim to put the ball in play and land in the right positions on the greens.

The Asian Tour is home to me. Whenever I come back to Asia and play in tournaments like the Hero Indian Open, I see so many familiar faces. It’s definitely the fun Tour to play in the world, and I’ve played all over the world. I spent seven years here, worked my way up from the bottom, had to play in the Asian Qualifying School twice. In 2010, I had to play well in Cambodia to keep my playing card. I’ve really enjoyed here and I’ve learned a lot from the Asian Tour. The exposure has helped me be more appreciative when I have gone out west. The attitude I’ve developed while playing on the Asian Tour has also certainly helped me on the world stage.

At a demanding golf course like this, a lot of your decision making will be based on two factors. One is the wind, the other is the pin position. You take a hole like number nine. If you put the pin in front, close to the water, there’s no advantage by being aggressive off the tee. But if you put the pin all the way back, even if you miss-hit with your driver, you still have a great chance. Being aggressive without any thought will only land you in trouble. I will pick my battles very carefully. This golf course, as we’ve seen with S.S.P., rewards percentage play, so you have to think hard ad you have to be very precise with your strategy. If you are downwind, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the green. If you’re into the wind you want to be closer. Those two factors, for me, will determine how I go about playing a hole. I might play it defensively one day and aggressively one day.

Gavin Green (Mas)

Obviously, I’ve got great memories of this tournament, having finished in second place last year. Although, it’ll be a brand new 72 holes this year. I think I’ll just approach this year’s tournament as how I did last year, since it worked for me. Although, if the wind picks up, it’ll be really tricky.

Being able to hit it long helps me on this course for sure. Instead of hitting drivers, I can opt to hit five wood or two iron, which are typically more accurate. I’m figuring out the lines and see where we can be aggressive and where we can play it safe.

It means a lot being the reigning Asian Tour number one for sure, but I still have to step up and play well at every tournament. My game is alright. Although I struggled a bit over the last couple of weeks, but that’s part of the game.

Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)

I remember winning the Indian Open in 2001. Things have changed significantly. The field is different and the course has become more challenging. I will try my best this year. I can’t say no to playing golf, especially in a tournament of this nature.

I really enjoy my game at the moment. To keep motivated, I practice efficiently and stay fit physically. Most importantly, I love the game.

I would like to see even more young players in this game. In Thailand, the industry knows about golf, how to improve the standard of play and develop players for the future. It is happening in India and Korea as well. I’m glad to see such developments and hopefully, more Asian players will compete on the world stage.

I heard about the golf course here at DLF Golf and Country Club. It looks great. I don’t mind the challenge at all as It’s the same for everyone.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha)

The golf course is challenging and different for sure. It’s probably most similar to the one at Samui, but this Gary Player layout is Samui on steroids! Thing is, I like Samui, so I’m looking forward to competing at the Hero Indian Open. All your shots have to be on point.

The course engages you thoroughly, but given the extended break after the Hero Indian Open, we can put all our focus and energy into this tournament.

I had a week off last week and I feel pretty good about my game. My swing is alright. Here, you have to stay patient. Anything can happen. If your game is good, you can still play badly and conversely, if your game is bad, you can still come back with a good score. I just want to beat my score last year. I made silly mistakes and I want to minimise that. I’ve learned not to be too greedy.

Jakarta, January 28^th 2013: Irish star Darren Clarke and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell will join fellow Major champions Ernie Els and John Daly for the US$750,000 CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2013 at Royale Jakarta Golf Club from May 2– 5.
The inclusion of Clarke and Campbell, along with multiple Tour winner Simon Dyson of England, is a huge boost for the prestigious event, which will now have four Major winners competing against the best players from the Asian Tour.
Clarke and Els are both British Open champions, with both winning the world’s oldest Major in 2011 and 2012 respectively while Campbell is a former U.S. Open champion. Daly won the 1991 U.S. PGA Championship and 1995 British Open.
Dyson is a golfing hero in Asia in his own right. With several wins on both the Asian Tour and European Tour, he won the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown in 2000 during his rookie professional season and also claimed victory in the Indonesia Open in 2006.
“It is fantastic to see so many new stars confirmed for the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2013 which signifies our rapid growth. Our aim when we took up the title sponsor position in 2012 was to be a part of an international golf tournament, which helps to inspire Indonesian golfers as well as assist in the development of the game at the junior and amateur level,” said, Gatot Subagio, Head of Corporate Communications of PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk
With the participation of Simon Dyson, Darren Clarke, Michael Campbell, Ernie Els and John Daly in the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2013 combined with the announcement of our Amateur League and Youth Development initiatives, we are confident that our event is setting the stage for the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters to continue to grow into one of the biggest tournaments in the region.”
Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “It is wonderful to see the addition of international stars for the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters, which keeps growing in stature with each passing year. As a full-field Asian Tour tournament, our talented members look forward to competing against many of the best players in the world at a truly wonderful venue in the Royale Jakarta Golf Club. I would like to express our fullest appreciation to CIMB Niaga who is taking every effort to further raise the profile of this wonderful event which will profile Indonesia to the world.”
The announcement comes at the same time as new sponsors sign up to be part of Indonesia’s most prestigious international golfing event. Telkomsel (Official Communications partner) and Sari Pan Pacific Hotel Jakarta (Official Hotel) join the family of sponsors in celebrating all the new developments of the event.
The CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2013 will also start its Amateur League series at Royale Jakarta Golf Club this month. All amateurs are welcome to play on any Tuesday or Wednesday at the host venue, off the black tees and can enter their scores at the end of each round to be counted in the Order of Merit which will be featured on the event’s website www.indonesianmasters.co.id.
A minimum of three rounds must be played to qualify for a ranking and the leading amateur at the end of March 2013 will win a spot to play in the tournament proper representing the Indonesian Golf Association (Persatuan Golf Indonesia).
The Youth Development initiatives include monthly clinics for the juniors of Indonesia, selected by the Indonesian Golf Association, as well as a one-day qualifying tournament for 40 of Indonesia’s best juniors who can attempt to win a spot to play in tournament proper.
The best performing juniors will also be given exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the event during the event week as an added incentive for them to give their best performance during the clinics.
“The initiatives for amateurs and juniors of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters are certainly very welcomed by the Indonesian Golf Association. Our focus is to keep developing our young golfers and also provide a strong platform for them to grow into our future talents for the nation. We are thankful to CIMB Niaga and all the other partners as well as the organisers of the event for encompassing all aspects of the game through their event. It is clear they have the goal to have a sustainable event for the country and we are proud to support the event together with the Professional Golfers Association of Indonesia, PGA Indonesia” said Rizal Arya from the Indonesian Golf Association.
Besides developing the youth and amateurs of Indonesia, the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters is also committed to giving back to the community through their association with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia. The event serves to raise funds to build homes for families in need in Indonesia and have so far managed to help 25 families by providing them with a decent home to live in.
The CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters will have widespread exposure via a strong local media platform and the Asian Tour’s global television platform, which reaches over 200 countries and 650 million households on the Live, Highlights, Asian Tour Golf Show and Golfing World.
Indonesia’s premier news channel, Metro TV, will also be broadcasting the event locally for 10 hours live and will be airing additional shows and features related to the event and the positive impact to the golf industry and overall economy of Indonesia.
Partners include Title Sponsor CIMB Niaga,  PNTS (Main Partner), Salonpas by Hisamitsu (Main Partner), BMW (Official Car), Navigat Energy (Main Partner), Telkomsel (Official Communications Partner), Sari Pan Pacific Hotel Jakarta (Official Hotel), Rolex (Official Time Keeper) and San Miguel (Official Beer).

About CIMB Niaga

CIMB Niaga was established as Bank Niaga in 1955. CIMB Group holds around 97.94% of the stakes in CIMB Niaga. The Bank offers a comprehensive suite of both conventional and Islamic banking products and services, through an expanding delivery channel network of 968 offices all over Indonesia as at 30 September 2012, including 608 branches, 314 Mikro Laju units, and 46 cash/payment points. CIMB Niaga has more than 14,000 employees.
CIMB Niaga encourages people to share high growth and take advantage of all the potential that South-East Asia regions bring – in line with CIMB Group’s brand positioning: “ASEAN for You”.
CIMB Group is Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider and one of ASEAN’s leading universal banking groups. It offers consumer banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, asset management and insurance products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is now present in 9 out of 10 ASEAN nations (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar and Philippines). Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong, Bahrain, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Australia, the US, UK and Korea. CIMB Group is listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad. It has a market capitalisation of USD18.2 billion as at 30 September 2012. The Group has over 43,000 employees located in 18 countries.
 
About the Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia.  This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), J.Lindeberg (Official Apparel Partner), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts),), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Royal Selangor (Official Trophy Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), BlackBerry (Official Mobile) and Srixon (Official Ball). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Driver: Titleist 917D2 8.5*                                       

Shaft: Mitsubishi-Chemical Kuro Kage XT 70 TX

Fairway1: TaylorMade M2 (2016) 15*                     

Shaft: Project X Graphite HZRDUS Yellow 76 6.5

Irons: Titleist 718 MB (5-9) Titleist T-MB 718 (3-4) 

Shaft: TrueTemper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedge1: Titleist Vokey Design SM6 F Grind 46*

Wedge2: Titleist Vokey Design SM6 F Grind 50*

Wedge3: Titleist Vokey Design SM6 M Grind 56*

Wedge4: Titleist Vokey Design SM6 M Grind 62*

Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron KOMBI

Ball: Titleist Pro V1 (2017)

Shoe: FootJoy

Cap: Titleist

Bag: Titleist

Glove: FootJoy

Manila, April 6: Frankie Minoza, Angelo Que, Juvic Pagunsan and Miguel Tabuena, the past, present and future stars of Filipino golf, will spearhead the local challenge at the inaugural Solaire Open next week.
Veteran Minoza, who has enjoyed a highly successful career by winning multiple titles across Asia including the 2007 Philippine Open on the Asian Tour, believes the current generation of Filipino golfers will shine at the challenging Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
Que and Pagunsan hold a combined four Asian Tour titles with the latter becoming the first Filipino to win the prestigious Order of Merit crown in 2011.
The talented Tabuena, a two-time winner on the local circuit, was in contention at the 2012 Queen’s Cup in Thailand and ICTSI Philippine Open before finishing tied 11^th and 10^th place respectively.
“The current Philippine field is good and these young kids have no fear. They are very good,” said the 53-year-old Minoza ahead of the Solaire Open which will be staged from April 11 to 14.
Que got off to a superb start to the 2013 Asian Tour season when he finished tied fourth at the season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open but went through a minor setback when he missed the cut at the Chiangmai Golf Classic presented by PTT last week.
He is slowly hitting the mark with a new set of golf clubs but remains upbeat of challenging for a fourth victory on the region’s premier Tour, which is celebrating its 10^th milestone season.
“I finished fourth in my first event so it has been pretty good so far. I’m still trying to find four good rounds for the whole week where I will be in contention again,” said Que.
“Every time you have new equipment, you have to make it match your golf swing and your style especially me with the low lofts, stiff shafts and flat lies. So it’s pretty hard for me to get it to match nicely,” he added.
Jay Bayron, who earned his 2013 Asian Tour card by winning the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit last year, Antonio Lascuna, who finished a career high 12^th on the 2012 Order of Merit, and Artemio Murakami, who is an Asian Tour winner, will also feature in the newest event on the Asian Tour.
Baek Seuk-hyun of Korea, Arnond Vongvanij of Thailand, Mardan Mamat of Singapore, Tetsuji Hiratsuka of Japan and Rikard Karlberg of Sweden are among the elite cast of international stars who will vie for honours at Wack Wack next week.
About Solaire Resort and Casino
Solaire Resort and Casino is the first to open in the highly anticipated Entertainment City project along the Philippine’s famed Manila Bay.
The first phase includes approximately 500 luxuriously appointed rooms, suites and bayside villas as well as resort-style pool facilities, bars and entertainment lounges. In addition, there is a state-of-the-art ballroom and meeting space, and a fully equipped spa and fitness center.
The resort also features a world-class dining experience at our signature, casual and quick serve restaurants. The new dining avenues are headed by world-renowned chefs and showcase a comprehensive selection of authentic local and international flavors to cater to even the most discerning palate.
And to give you the ultimate Las Vegas gaming experience, Solaire’s expansive 18,500 square-meter casino area stretches two levels of gaming space, including premium VIP salons and an outdoor themed casino and entertainment bar – all loaded with the most popular slot machines and table games, such as Baccarat, Blackjack, Pontoon and many more!
About the Solaire Open
The Solaire Open is a new event on the 2013 Asian Tour Schedule. It is title sponsored by the Solaire Resort and Casino and supported by DOT (Department of Tourism), Hyundai, the Official Mobility, Pru Life UK, the Official Insurer, Nescafé Dolce Gusto, the Official Coffee and Omega, the Official Timekeeper. The suppliers for the event include Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, the Official Hotel, Johnnie Walker, the Official Whiskey, Asahi Super Dry, the Official Beer, Srixon, the Official Ball, Panasonic, the Official Television Provider, Canon, the Office Solutions Provider and PepsiCo, the Official Water and Sports Drinks.
About the Asian Tour
In 2013, the Asian Tour will celebrate a momentous milestone with its 10th season. As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Abacus (Official Apparel Partner), BlackBerry (Official Communications Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Srixon (Official Ball), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts) and Rolex (Official Timekeeper). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Also, visit us at www.wp-asiantour.ocs-sport.com, www.facebook.com/asiantourgolf, www.twitter.com/asiantourgolf, www.youtube.com/theasiantour and www.weibo.com/asiantourgolf
 

Kuala Lumpur, April 6: American James Bowen will seek to strengthen his position at the top of the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit when he headlines the field at the PGM Maybank Johor Masters next week.
Bowen claimed victory at the PGM Sime Darby Harvard Masters in February to move to the top of the Merit list following the completion of three tournaments on the feeder circuit which is run by the Asian Tour.
Canadian Lindsay Renolds, who is third on the Order of Merit, will also tee up for the RM200,000 (approximately US$65,000) tournament at the Johor Country Club from April 10-13 along with Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Chi-hsien, winner of the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship on the ADT last season, England’s Grant Jackson, Australia’s Michael Moore, Indonesia’s Benny Kasiadi and George Gandranata.
Australia’s Luke Bleumink will defend his title in Johor.
Maybank is title sponsoring the Johor Masters, which is also sanctioned by the PGM Tour, for the first time. Maybank is also a major sponsor on the Asian Tour where it has title sponsored the prestigious Maybank Malaysian Open since 2006.
The PGM Maybank Johor Masters will offer another opportunity for Malaysian golfers to earn Official World Golf Ranking points. Since the beginning of 2013, all ADT events receive world ranking points which is a huge boost for the development of the game across the region.
Malaysia’s Danny Chia, who won the previous ADT event at the PGM Northport Glenmarie Masters last month, moved up 174 spots to 496th position on the world rankings following his victory.
“The world ranking points help us as a player to see how we’ve improved,” said Chia following his wire-to-wire win at the PGM Northport Glenmarie Masters.
All winners on the ADT will receive a minimum of six world ranking points while the top-six players and ties will earn points based on a sliding scale.
The world rankings will be used to determine the 60-man field when golf makes a return to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. It has been estimated that the top-200 bracket will be the cut-off for players to qualify.
About the Asian Development Tour
The Asian Development Tour was launched in 2010 with the aim of creating a career pathway for professional golfers in Asia. Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the Asian Development Tour will ultimately create a new playing platform for emerging stars from across Asia and around the world. Through the Asian Tour Qualifying School, players will qualify for the Asian Development Tour and enjoy the opportunity to hone their games and talent through a secondary circuit in Asia. Designed in the same structure as the Nationwide Tour in America and European Challenge Tour, the Asian Development Tour is a stepping stone to the Asian Tour and the exciting world of international golf. The Asian Development Tour has been structured to ensure the best opportunities for its members. The leading three players on the Asian Development Tour will earn coveted Asian Tour cards for the following season, ensuring a proper career pathway for aspiring professionals. The ADT will also receive Official World Golf Ranking points from 2013.