Johnnie Walker to put Cambodia on golfing map

The inaugural US$300,000 Johnnie Walker Cambodia Open promises to pave the way for the growth and development of golf in Cambodia when it begins from Nov 29 – Dec 2 at the Phokheetra Country Club.

This penultimate event on the Asian Tour schedule will be the first professional golf tournament to be staged in Cambodia and organisers announced that it will provide the platform for aspiring amateurs to make an impact at the Phokheetra Country Club.

In line with the development and growth of golf in Cambodia, leading amateurs from across the region including Cambodia will rub shoulders with the best players from the Asian Tour.

The tournament also aims to place Cambodia firmly on the international golfing map, unearth new home-grown talents and ultimately create a breed of champions from Cambodia.

The Asian Tour, which is the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, is committed to helping new golfing nations like Cambodia develop the game and regards the US$300,000 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open as an ideal platform to attract and expose new golfers to an international competition.

Amateurs from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, China and India will be invited to compete in the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open.

“The game of golf continues to prosper in Asia and we are confident this tournament will act as a launch pad for exciting talents to emerge from Cambodia,’ said Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour.

“By inviting the leading amateurs from across the region, we believe that this experience and opportunity will enable an easier transition from amateur to professional ranks whenever they decide to make the next move in their golf careers,” added Han, who will also be playing together with three amateurs in a US$5,400 charity skins game sponsored by Johnnie Walker later today.

Besides enhancing the professional golf landscape in Cambodia, the tournament, held against the picturesque backdrop of the historical Phokeethra Country Club is also expected to give sports tourism a major boost, with the full support from Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism.

“The Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open is the first international golf tournament in the Kingdom of Cambodia. With this event, we believe that it will show our commitment to the rest of the world our support for sports tourism in our country,” said Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism of Cambodia.

“The combination of our historical tourist sites together with international sporting events like this will certainly give us the opportunity to welcome more visitors to our country, Home of World Heritage.”

Phokeethra Country Club is steeped in the history of the region. Within its grounds stands the magnificent ancient ‘Roluh’ bridge dating back to the 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.

Johnnie Walker’s Sam Fischer, General Manager, Indochina said: “I’m very happy that the Phokeethra Country Club has been chosen as the host venue for this tournament as this is the perfect course that will showcase Cambodia as a beautiful country for golf to the rest of the world.”

“We are honored to be part of this historic occasion and look forward to four wonderful days of golf here in November.”

October 17, 2007

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