KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Open golf championship, set to return after a lapse of four years, on Feb 15-18, has received a tremendous boost to its stature.
The US$1 million (RM4.72 million) tournament, which will be hosted at the Mines Golf Club in Seri Kembangan, has been named by The R&A as one of the two Asian Tour events forming part of the British Open Qualifying Series, along with the Korea Open (June 20-23).
The Asian Tour announced today that a total of three spots for the 152nd British Open on July 18-21 are up for grabs through the Malaysian Open. This event serves as the season opener for the region's premier circuit this year.
The top three finishers, not already exempt, will punch their tickets to the famed Royal Troon Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland.
Asian Tour Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner Cho Minn Thant said: "The Asian Tour is very pleased that two National Opens on our Tour are part of The R&A's global network of elite qualification events.
"The IRS Prima Malaysian Open is the opening event of our 2024 season and its Open Qualifying Series status certainly increases the motivation for our members who are enjoying a much-deserved off-season."
The Malaysian Open now stands tall alongside prestigious events like the US PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial Tournament, and Canadian Open, as well as the Italian Open, Dutch Open, and Scottish Open on the DP World Tour (European Tour), serving as one of the 12 international sites of The Open Qualifying Series.
It is hoped that top local golfers such as Gavin Green, Ben Leong, Shahriffuddin Ariffin, and Ervin Chang, who are expected to lead the nation's charge, will capitalise on this opportunity to try to qualify for The British Open, one of the four major championships in men's golf.
Gavin was the last Malaysian to feature in the British Open back in 2018, at the Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. He made the cut and finished tied for 61st.
The only other two national golfers who had competed in the British Open were Ian Steel (1996) and Danny Chia (2010).