Macau Open Back with Record Prize Fund

The Macau Open is set to return bigger and better than ever this year, unhealthy with a record prize purse of US$750, medicine 000. Sanctioned by the Asian Tour, The Macau Open will be staged at the challenging Macau Golf and Country Club from September 15 to 18, 2011. Macau last hosted Asia’s best professional golfers in 2009 when Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand claimed his 11th Asian Tour victory.

Since its inception in 1998, The Macau Open has been a regular fixture on the Asian Tour calendar and has never failed to attract the world’s best players.  The tournament has been won by many world stars, including Lee Westwood of England (1999) and Colin Montgomerie of Scotland (2003).

Asian luminaries who have triumphed in the tournament include China’s Zhang Lian-wei (2001 & 2002), Lu Wen-teh of Chinese Taipei (2007) and Wiratchant (2009). Many other top names have competed in Macau previously, including Zimbabwe’s Nick Price, England’s Nick Faldo, Fijian Vijay Singh, Australian Steve Elkington, Americans Fred Couples and Mark O’Meara and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington.

Vong Iao Lek, President of the Macau Sport Development Board (MSDB), lauded the return of Macau’s flagship golf tournament on the region’s elite circuit. “We are delighted and honoured to stage the Macau Open once again on the Asian Tour. The Macau Open enjoyed tremendous success since its launch in 1998 and we look forward to a memorable edition in 2011,” said Vong.

In a first for the tournament, the Macau Open, which is a full-field Asian Tour tournament, will be beamed live over four rounds on the extensive Asian Tour’s global television platform.

“The MSDB and our new partner IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing agency which organises and represents some of the world’s most significant golf tournaments are excited to welcome back the Asian Tour stars to Macau. The tournament will continue to showcase Macau as a world-famous holiday destination. With the live television broadcasts, the Macau Open will go a long way in promoting Macau as a vibrant and exciting destination.

“It is indeed very exciting for the MSDB to be working closely with the Asian Tour again in our effort to support and promote professional golf at the highest level in Asia. With a record prize fund, we believe this is the start of a new and exciting chapter for the Macau Open,” added Vong.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han says the return of the Macau Open reinforces the growth of the Asian Tour, which in the first half of the season successfully launched two new tournaments – Panasonic Open (India) and Indonesian Masters. The inaugural K.J. Choi Invitational and Thailand Golf Championship will be staged in Seoul and Bangkok in October and December respectively.

“The Macau Open has a rich legacy and is one of the most popular tournaments amongst our players. We are delighted to welcome back the Macau Open onto our Schedule,” said Han.

“The diverse culture and magnificent setting at Macau Golf and Country Club adds great allure to the tournament which has crowned many worthy champions in the past. With the Macau Open taking place in a very busy second half of the year on the Asian Tour, the tournament will play an integral part in our Order of Merit race. We are looking forward to seeing our top stars head to Macau to compete for a truly prestigious title,” he added.

Robbie Henchman, SVP IMG said “We are incredibly proud to be partnering with the Macau Sport Development Board for this event.”