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Asian Tour backs Putra Cup

The Asian Tour has stamped its official support behind the Putra Cup, Southeast Asian region's foremost amateur golf competition.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said it is important for the Tour to recognise the annual event, which is the breeding ground for future champions in the professional game.

As a start, Han said the recent Putra Cup individual winner Tanyakon Khongpra of Thailand, who triumphed at the Singapore Island Country Club last week, will be invited to play in the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open in December.

"The Asian Tour recognises the importance of the Putra Cup and fully supports the staging of the annual event. As a significant team and individual competition, the Putra Cup has over the years provided a platform for emerging talents to showcase their skills," said Han.

"Through our involvement, we hope to build a bridge for these amateur golfers whom many of them will join the professional ranks later on in their careers. We will invite the individual champion to compete in Cambodia later this year which I believe will help build the foundation towards a great career."

Han added that many current Asian Tour stars have previously excelled in the Putra Cup, an event mooted some 50 years ago by the late Malaysian prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing, Malaysia's Ben Leong and Airil Rizman were all champions in the Putra Cup during their amateur days.

"The Asian Tour already supports elite amateur competitions such as the Faldo Series Asia and also development programmes including the First Tee of Singapore," said Han, a former Putra Cup player who won the team event for Myanmar in 1980.

"We are committed towards the growth of the game across the region and this includes being involved and supportive of amateur golf. Through our involvement, we hope that young and aspiring golfers will get a glimpse of professional golf and work towards achieving their aspirations," said Han.

September 1, 2008