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Chia sees boost for Malaysian golf from Selangor Masters

Danny Chia believes that Malaysia’s leading professional golfers will benefit immensely when they compete in the Selangor Masters on the Asian Tour next month.

Chia, who will feature in the British Open next week, said the country’s golfers have been starved from top level competition for a long time and the initiative by the Selangor government to back the RM1 million event which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour was a shot in the arm for Malaysian golf.

“It is great that 32 Malaysian pros will have the opportunity to compete in the Selangor Masters. To improve ourselves, the local players need to compete regularly against the best from the Asian Tour and not just compete amongst ourselves. Otherwise, we will never improve,” said Chia, holder of one title on the Asian Tour.

He thanked the Selangor government for their backing and also the Asian Tour for creating playing opportunities for Malaysia’s rising stars across the region. “We’ve had to earn the right to compete on the Asian Tour through our results and performances. This in turn have given us playing opportunities across Asia and made us better players.

“It was only through my rankings on the Asian Tour that I was able to qualify for the British Open via qualifying. Every year, the Tour has also provided country exemptions to Malaysian players as a way of supporting professional golf in our country and it’s certainly helped the younger players like Khor Kheng Hwai and S. Siva Chandran,” said Chia.

Chia will be shooting for glory at the Selangor Masters at Seri Selangor Golf Club from August 6 to 9 and attempt to win a second Asian Tour title to add to his maiden triumph at the 2002 Taiwan Open.

The big-hitting Malaysian has shown some good form this season, first qualifying for the British Open by topping the qualifier in Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore and subsequently finishing second at the Philippine Open.

“I am hopeful that I can challenge for the Selangor Masters title. It is a wonderful opportunity for me, and also for the other Malaysian players, to take on the region’s top stars on home soil. Victory will be very meaningful and I’ve been playing quite nicely this year,” said Chia.

July 8, 2008