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 Thailand Open returns to Asian Tour in 2009

The Thailand Open, one of the region’s most revered professional golf tournaments, will return onto the Asian Tour calendar in 2009 after an agreement between the Thailand Golf Association (TGA) and World Sport Group (WSG).

The tournament has not been held for three seasons on the Asian Tour due to lack of sponsorship but the TGA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WSG to inject new life into the event.

Under the terms of the new relationship, WSG will promote the Thailand Open for the next three years.

“This is an extremely exciting initiative for the Thailand Golf Association that we are confident will see the Thailand Open return to its glory days,” said Rungsrid Luxsitanonda, President, TGA.

“As everyone knows Thailand’s golfers are at the forefront of the game in Asia with so many great players but the one thing missing has been that fact that our national Open has not been played since 2005. We are delighted that the tournament will be re-launched at a time when the game is flourishing more than ever in Asia,” added Rungsrid.

New Zealander Richard Lee was the last player to lift the title in 2005 at Blue Canyon Golf and Country Club on Phuket Island.

Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said: “We are delighted that the Thailand Open will return onto the Asian Tour Schedule in 2009. Over the years, Thailand has produced many great champions and it will be tremendous for their players to have the opportunity to challenge for their national Open once again.”

The Thailand Open, first played in 1965, was an annual golfing tradition with some well known names inscribed on the trophy such as Australians David Graham (1970) and Graham Marsh (1973), and Chinese Taipei golfers Hsieh Min-nan (1972) and Chen Tze-ming (1983 and 1986).

“The Barclays Singapore Open, which this year will offer prize money of US$5 million, is an excellent example of what we can achieve and we are really looking forward to similarly transforming the Thailand Open,” said Chris Jordan, Senior Vice President, Golf, World Sport Group.

The Thai players will be eager to see their most important golf tournament return.

Unquestionably the most popular winner of the event is Thailand’s my famous golfing son Boonchu Ruangkit, who took top honours in 1992 and 2004.

However, he wasn’t the first home player to lift the trophy - that was a memorable feat achieved in 1991 by Suthep Meesawat. Suthep is the father of Prom Meesawat, one of Asia’s rising stars, who will no doubt hope to follow in his father’s footsteps and add his name to the trophy.

June 26, 2008