Johnnie Walker to sponsor Cambodian Open

Cambodia’s first professional golf tournament has received a huge boost following a title sponsorship agreement with Johnnie Walker, officials announced today.

The inaugural US$300,000 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open will be played at the spectacular Phokeethra Country Club, which is also a main tournament sponsor. The event, slated from November 29 to December 2, is destined to feature prominently on the Asian Tour Schedule.

The Cambodian government is throwing its weight behind the country’s first venture in golf, heralding the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open as the dawn of a new era, and it aims to firmly place Cambodia on the international golfing map and ultimately create a breed of champions.

As it is the penultimate event on the 2007 Asian Tour Schedule, all eyes will be on the region’s best players battling for the coveted UBS Order of Merit trophy.

The Asian Tour, which is the official regional sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, has also pledged to support the development of golf in Cambodia by being actively involved with plans to launch a golf development programme.

Johnnie Walker’s Sam Fischer, General Manager, Indochina said: “We are very honored to have this opportunity to work with the Phokeethra Country Club and Asian Tour on the Cambodian Open, and we look forward to watching some truly inspirational golf in Cambodia in November.

“Most of all, the tournament is a platform to promote the philosophy that lies at the heart of the Johnnie Walker brand: Keep Walking. This philosophy is about inspiring people to take the next step on their journey towards their goals. Professional Golfers are inspiring examples of this message as they have overcome challenges to excel at the highest level of the sport. We hope that the tournament inspires others to follow their own dreams.”

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said the birth of the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open, which is one of seven new events on the Schedule this season, proved that the professional game in Asia was thriving.

“The game continues to prosper in Asia and with a new initiative in Cambodia, our next plan of action will be to help new golfing nations to develop the game.

“One of the best ways to attract new golfers is to expose them to international-class competitions and I believe the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open will provide a launch pad for exciting talents to emerge from Cambodia,” said Han.

Phokeethra Country Club is steeped in the history of the region. Within its grounds stands the magnificent ancient “Roluh” bridge dating back to a khmer expire in the 11th Century AD and is older than the famous Angkor Wat which is located in Siem Reap. It is said that the bridge once formed part of the ancient route that connected the Phimai ruins in Thailand with Angkor Wat.

The club’s slogan aptly reads “Tee-off in the 11th century and finish your round back in the 21st century” and the best players from the Asian Tour will be challenged by the picturesque course.

The name “Phokeethra” is derived from Sanskrit words Bhogi, the powerful Phya Naga serpent spirit and Dhara meaning a large city.

Managing Director, Supachai Verapuchong said “After I invested the hotel business in Cambodia since 2000, I do think and do believe that Kingdom of Cambodia could have the potential growth in tourism business especially if we can combine the historical tourist attractions and sports tourism together.”

“There are more international tourists at present especially from East Asia such as Korean and Chinese.”

The Club’s Maximilian Kaendler, Clubhouse Manager said: “The opportunity to host the first Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open is truly exciting and we are looking forward to welcoming the Asian Tour’s finest players to Phokeethra Country Club.

“It is wonderful indeed that our golf club will be a part of this historic occasion and we will strive to present a truly Championship course that will test the skills of the competitors.”

July 16, 2007

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