Golf: Asian Tour tees off in Bangkok

The third edition of the Asian Tour International, with a total prize fund of US$300,000, will enjoy the honour of raising the curtain for the new season at the Suwan Golf and Country Club starting on Thursday.

Title holder James Kamte of South Africa will defend his title against Asia's top players including former number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, Japan's Daisuke Maruyama, Australian Marcus Both and Singaporean Mardan Mamat.

Over the next 11 months, the Tour will travel to as far as Switzerland for the Omega European Masters, co-sanctioned with the European Tour, and to the Far East in Japan for the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open which is co-sanctioned with the Japan Golf Tour.

The Avantha Masters and Yeangder Tournament Players Championship will make their debuts in India and Chinese Taipei respectively while other new events in Malaysia and Singapore will be announced in the near future. The Air Bagan Myanmar Open presented by IBTC will also make a welcome return to the Schedule after a four-year lapse.

Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour, said the new season promises to showcase Asian golf at its best through the staging of world-class events over the year.