Kuala Lumpur: After giving it a slip lastseason due to a shoulder injury, two-time champion Arjun Atwal
will return to tee up in the European and Asian Tour's
co-sanctioned Maybank Malaysia Open golf tournament here this
year.
Apart from Atwal, who won the title in 2003 and 2008, PGA
member KJ Choi will be headlining the field of players in the
156-strong line up competing for top honours in the March 4 to
7 event.
Joining Choi in a clash of the champions from the various
tours are the familiar faces of two-time Maybank Malaysian
Open Thongchai Jaidee and Asian Tour's Prayad Marksaeng.
European Tour's Darren Clarke and Chris Wood, together with
Japan's Shingo Katayama and PGA member Daniel Chopra, round
off the line up of the event.
Atwal, who was off course most of last year due to
shoulder injuries, won his second Maybank Malaysian Open title
in 2008 overcoming then defending champion Peter Hedblom in a
play-off.
Atwal, the first Indian player to secure membership of
the US PGA Tour, will have to slog it out this season to
retain his card due to the lengthy injury layoffs last year.
Defending champion Anthony Kang, who notched up a
thrilling one stroke victory at last year's Maybank Malaysian
Open, will be back this year.
Kang would be hoping to defend his title at the Kuala
Lumpur Golf and Country Club and make an impressive start to
the new season.
The 2009 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Thongchai
Jaidee will also be returning to the event, which he has won
twice.
Apart from an attractive purse of USD two million, the
event also offers vital Race to Dubai points for those from
Europe and a two year exemption on the European Tour for the
winner.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 03, 2010, 14:12