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Outstanding golfers of 2008 nominated for Johnnie Walker Awards

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, American Anthony Kim and Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng are included in a group of outstanding golfers that have been nominated for the prestigious Johnnie Walker "Keep Walking" Golf Awards.

The annual Awards presented by Johnnie Walker in association with the Asian, European and Australasian Tours, recognize the performances of professional golfers on Tour during the previous season.

A highlight on the golfing calendar, the Awards were created over a decade ago by Johnnie Walker to recognize great progress achieved by golfers both on and off the golf course and reflects the philosophy of personal progress that lies at the heart of the Johnnie Walker brand and is reflected in its "Keep Walking" campaign.

Inspirational performers Singh, Marksaeng, Lin Wen-tang of Chinese-Taipei and Thai Thongchai Jaidee have been nominated for the Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year whilst Kim, Camilo Villegas of Colombia, German Martin Kaymer, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, Rory McIlroy and Western Australia’s Rick Kulacz have been named as the contenders for the Johnnie Walker Young Player of the Year Award.

The four contenders for the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star Award, presented to the young Asian professional who has shown the most promise, talent and commitment to the game of golf over the past 12 months, are Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, Koreans Noh Seung-yul and Bae Sang-moon and Ben Leong of Malaysia.

"Once again the contenders in the running to win our 2008 Johnnie Walker "Keep Walking" Awards have performed at the highest level of the sport over the last 12 months and have shown tremendous talent, commitment and integrity," commented David Gates, Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker. "Each one of them has no doubt inspired others to overcome personal challenges and realise their dreams."

The winners of the three Awards, as voted by a panel of judges from the Asian, European and Australasian Tours and Johnnie Walker, will be announced on Saturday, February 21, at the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic Gala Dinner in Perth.

With prize money of UK£1.25 million, the Johnnie Walker Classic, which takes place at The Vines Resort & Country Club in Perth, Western Australia from February 19 to 22, boasts a star-studded field of international players including nominees Villegas, Kim and Jaidee, and international stars such as the legendary Greg Norman, English trio of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and the 2009 Abu Dhabi Championship winner Paul Casey and popular Scot Colin Montgomerie plus a host of Asia’s best golfers.

Past winners of the Johnnie Walker Asian Golfer of the Year include Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit in 1995, Kyi Hla Han, the Chairman of the Asian Tour, in 1998, Korea’s KJ Choi (2002 & 2007).

Andres Romero of Argentina is the reigning Johnnie Walker Young Golfer of Year, an Award that has previously been won by Luke Donald (2004), Adam Scott (2003), Justin Rose (2002) and Sergio Garcia (2001) whilst last year Lee Sung of Korea was awarded the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star Award.

JOHNNIE WALKER "Keep Walking" Awards 2008 - The Nominations

JOHNNIE WALKER Asian Golfer of the Year

• Jeev Milkha Singh (India) - enjoyed a stellar year, winning four titles around the world including the Barclays Singapore Open, which made him the first player in Asian Tour history to surpass US$1 million in a single season and rose to a career high 35th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
• Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand) – secured three victories on the Japan Tour, including the prestigious the Dunlop Phoenix tournament, and secured an invite to the US Masters
• Lin Wen-tang (Chinese-Taipei) - enjoyed his finest year as a professional in 2008, winning two titles and finishing second on the Order of Merit.
• Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) - two end-of-season victories have seen him equal Thaworn Wiratchant’s record of ten Asian Tour victories

JOHNNIE WALKER Young Golfer of the Year

• Anthony Kim (US) - in only his second year on the US PGA Tour, Kim recorded two victories in 2008 and then went on to secure fourth spot in the FedEx Cup. A highly-decorated amateur who only turned pro in 2006, Kim also earned himself an automatic spot in Paul Azinger’s US Ryder Cup team last September.
• Camilo Villegas (Colombia) - exploded onto the international golfing stage with two straight victories on the PGA Tour in September which secured him second spot behind Vijay Singh in the FedEx Cup. In doing so, he made the record books by becoming the first Colombian to win on the US PGA Tour.
• Martin Kaymer (Germany) - underlined his talent on his first appearance of the 2008 season with an impressive wire-to-wire maiden victory in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. A second win, this time in his homeland at the BMW International Open, confirmed his place in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
• Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) - won The 2008 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year thanks to a great season which culminated in winning the Open de France ALSTOM title, holding off the challenges of Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood along the way. Fourth Spaniard to win the award following Olazabal, Garcia and Fernandez-Castano
• Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) - pushed Larrazabal hard for the Rookie of the Year crown and lost in two play-offs during the course of 2008 – in the Omega European Masters and the UBS Hong Kong Open
• Rick Kulacz (Australia) - won the Brunei Open in his Rookie Year on the Asian Tour and was recently awarded the Greg Norman/Australian Golf Writers Association and the Australian Golf Digest Rookie of the Year Awards.

Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star of the Year

• Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) – after turning pro in 2008, won his second Japan Golf Tour tournament, the mynavi ABC Championship, and at the close of 2008 had become the youngest ever player to reach the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings. The 17-year-old was invited to play in the US Masters as one of International Invitees by the Augusta National Golf Club
• Noh Seung-yul (Korea) – claimed a breakthrough victory at the Midea China Classic and posted three runner-up finishes. The 17-year-old belied his age to finish the season in an impressive 10th position on the Order of Merit
• Bae Sang-moon (Korea) – Won his national open, Korea Open, in 2008 and with compatriot Kim Hyung-tae, the Fortis International Challenge in Malaysia, to secure a slot in the 2008 Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
• Ben Leong (Malaysia) – Having won the 2008 Qualifying School in Malaysia, Leong went on to secure his maiden Asian Tour victory, the Worldwide Selangor Masters, finishing the year at 25 on the Order of Merit.

February 3, 2009