Thongchai and Chowrasia to play in Maybank Malaysian Open
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Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Avantha Masters champion S.S.P. Chowrasia have confirmed their participation at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 from April 14 to 17.
Thai star Thongchai will be gunning for a third Malaysian Open victory following wins in 2004 and 2005. He finished runner-up in 2006 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, which will host the Open for the second straight year next month.
The 41-year-old, who has a large fan base in Malaysia, served in the Royal Thai Army as a paratrooper before turning professional at the age of 30. He currently holds the record for most wins on the Asian Tour with 13 titles to his name.
Last season, Thongchai collected his 13th win at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open. In 2008 and 2009, the three time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion won twice in each season but has voiced his ambition to land a first victory on European soil.
Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia, or better known as S.S.P., has come a long way from being the Royal Calcutta Golf Club's greenskeeper's son. Following in the footsteps of compatriot and idol, Jeev Milkha Singh, S.S.P. emerged as a local hero when he secured the inaugural Indian Masters title in 2008.
It was a memorable triumph as he defeated an elite field that included South Africa's Ernie Els and Alvaro Quiros of Spain.
Last month, the 32-year old gave his home crowd more to cheer about as he bagged the Avantha Masters title. The win at the tri-sanctioned Asian Tour, European Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) event ended his three-year drought.
Chowrasia and Thongchai will face one of the biggest challenges of their career at the Maybank Malaysian Open as they will go up against world number one Martin Kaymer of Germany, promising teen sensation Rory McIlroy of Ireland and South Africa's
Louis Oosthuizen, the reigning British Open champion, and Charl Schwartzel.
This year, the tournament reaches a milestone as it celebrates its 50th edition with many of the world's best golfers gathering to compete at the renowned Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Making history as the first ever co-sanctioned tournament in Asia by both the European and Asian Tours in 1999, the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 will feature top players from the rankings of both these world-leading circuits to make up the 156-player line-up.
Points earned at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 will go towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and will also add to the player's 2011 Race to Dubai Ranking, granting them a chance to qualify for the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
A star-studded field is expected at the 50th edition of the Maybank Malaysian Open, with the Malaysian professionals competing with some of the world's best players for the championship title. With a USD 2.5 million prize purse up on offer, spectators can expect an exciting tournament this April. The four-day co-sanctioned event will take place at the West Course of the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from 14th - 17th April 2011.
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