Three More Of The World’s Best Heading To The Maybank Malaysian Open 2013

February 5, 2013

Three More Of The World’s Best Heading To The Maybank Malaysian Open 2013

Star Player – Padraig Harrington

Kuala Lumpur, 4 February 2013 – Maybank today unveiled three Star Players who have confirmed their participation in the Maybank Malaysian Open 2013 scheduled for March 21 to 24 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. The three, Charl Schwartzel, Matteo Manassero and Padraig Harrington will join former World No. 1 – Luke Donald whose participation was announced early January.

Returning after an impressive performance towards the end of last year, South African Charl Schwartzel is looking forward to Kuala Lumpur. “It’s one of my favourite events of the year and I love Asia – the food, people, culture and golf courses”, he said. Schwartzel secured his name as one of the world’s best when he won the Masters Tournament in 2011.

Italian Matteo Manassero is definitely no stranger to Malaysia and the Maybank Malaysian Open. The bright young golfer stunned many when he became Champion in the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 with his impressive accuracy and well-formed game. The youngest golfer to have won the European Tour, Manassero continues to fascinate the golf world with his ‘matured’ golf skills which are way beyond his years.

Three-time Major Champion Padraig P. Harrington is also set to bring intense golf competition come March. The Irishman last took part in the Maybank Malaysian Open in 2006. Apart from being a great golfer, Harrington is also a great supporter of charitable work.

He is the Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics where he organised golf clinics for athletes and coaches and showed his support by sporting red shoe laces to generate public awareness to its cause.

Maybank Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor said, “The confirmation of these additional World Top 50 Players in this year’s Maybank Malaysian Open shows the strength of our event as well as Malaysia’s strong standing in the golf industry.

Spectators will get to see a mix of stars, experience world-class action and be inspired at our own greens. With many renowned golfers who are expected to confirm the participation the coming weeks, I foresee spectators are in for some spectacular golf action”.

Official owner cum custodian of the tournament, The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) is thrilled with the announcement. “The Maybank Malaysian Open has always been a valuable avenue for our professionals to gain experience and expose themselves to high-calibre international golfers. Our Malaysian professionals will definitely benefit from being in the same tournament as these three top golfers,” said President of MGA, Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor.

The event promoter GlobalOne is proud to have secured the Star Players in this year’s tournament. “The participation of these top golfers not only further heightens the profile of the prestigious tournament but will also heighten the action during the four-day event. It will be an exhilarating event that fans and golfers would not want to miss!” said John Eu, Chief Executive

Officer of GlobalOne.

The Maybank Malaysian Open is regarded as the most prestigious golf event in the country and a leading National Open in the region. The event has hosted some of the best international and regional professional golfers.

Since taking up the title sponsorship eight years ago, Maybank has successfully attracted high-caliber golfers from around the world with the likes of Rory McIIroy, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Charlie Wie, Thongchai Jaidee, KJ Choi and Alvaro Quiros.

This year, the tournament ups the ante with a prize purse of USD2.75 million, an increase of USD250,000 from last year. The Maybank Malaysian Open is the first National Open in Asia to be co-sanctioned by both the European and Asian Tours in 1999 and is part of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai.

For information on the Maybank Malaysian Open 2013, visit www.maybankmalaysianopen.com or follow us on Twitter @maybankmsiaopen or #maybankmalaysianopen. Tickets for the event are available now. For information on ticketing, please go to www.ticketpro.com.my.