Westwood and Clark start 1999 campaign

Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood, second and third respectively in last season’s Volvo Order of Merit, launch their 1999 campaigns this week at the Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open presented by Carlsberg at Saujana Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur.

Clarke finished the 1998 European Tour season with a superb round of 63 to win the Volvo Masters at Montecastillo. It was his second title of the year following his victory in the Benson and Hedges International Open at the Oxfordshire.

Westwood, who is attached to Saujana Golf and Country Club, also finished 1998 in style by winning back-to-back tournaments in Japan to take his tally of victories to seven for the year. Having won the Freeport-McDermott Classic in New Orleans on the US Tour at the start of the year, Westwood proceeded to win the Deutsche Bank - SAP Open TPC of Europe, the National Car Rental English Open, the Standard Life Loch Lomond and the Belgacom Open on the European Tour. Westwood also won the 1997 Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open and finished runner up in the 1998 event after a play-off with Ed Fryatt, who returns to defend his title.

Westwood said: "I’ve always enjoyed Malaysia and have managed to play well there in the past. I’m excited about the prospect of competing in such an important event at the golf club where I am attached. It is sure to be a very special event for the Saujana Golf and Country Club as well as the golf fans of Kuala Lumpur."

Also in the field will be no fewer than three other champions from the 1998 European Tour - Andrew Coltart, Mats Lanner and Thomas Levet. All but two of the Asian PGA Tour winners from last year are in the starting line-up

The Benson and Hedges Malaysian Open presented by Carlsberg marks another milestone in the history of the European Tour as the first joint-sanctioned event between the Tour and the Asian PGA Tour.