The Volvo Masters of Asia will be played at the highly acclaimed Thai Country Club this year, from December 8 to 11, marking a popular return to Thailand for what is the season-ending Tour Championship on the Asian Tour.
An elite field restricted to the top-60 players on the Asian Tour Order of Merit will star in the showpiece event, which was last played in the Kingdom in 2003.
Signifying their commitment to Asian golf, Volvo have increased the overall purse by US$50,000 to US$600,000.
Since its establishment in 2002, the Volvo Masters of Asia has provided golf fans in the region with a thrilling crescendo to the year and 2005 will be no exception.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, last year’s Asian Tour number one and winner of the Volvo Masters of Asia in 2003, will lead the way with a host of other star players.
“With wonderful memories of our last visit to Thailand in 2003 very fresh in our minds it is with eager anticipation that we head to this year’s event. Volvo are of course delighted to be heading to Thai Country Club which has a reputation second to none in the Land of Smiles,” said Mel Pyatt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Volvo Event Management.
The Volvo Masters of Asia was first played in Malaysia three years ago at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, where young Korean Kevin Na was triumphant. It was staged at the same venue last year and saw Jyoti Randhawa from India march to victory.
This season will mark the first time that the Volvo Masters of Asia has been played at Thai Country Club, a venue that has earned the reputation for being one of the finest clubs in Asia.
“Thai Country Club will be a fitting venue for the Volvo Masters of Asia, which has become one of the region’s premier golf tournaments. We are thrilled that the Volvo Masters of Asia will be staged at our club in December,” said Jean-Pierre Schneider, General Manager, Thai Country Club.
Located 45 minutes drive south of Bangkok, Thai Country Club is no stranger to staging top international competitions. The Club hosted the Asian Classic in 1997 which was won by American Tiger Woods, and also held one leg of the Johnnie Walker Super Tour in 1998 a tournament which was claimed by Vijay Singh from Fiji.
Since its inauguration the Volvo Masters of Asia has quickly established itself as a leading tournament on the Asian Tour.
By Bangkok Post
