Petaling Jaya, Selangor: The Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters will be beamed live to a global audience when the seventh edition returns to the challenging Seri Selangor Golf Club, organisers announced today.
The RM1.2 million (approximately US$400,000) event has become a popular fixture since joining the Asian Tour Schedule in 2008, a year after it was staged as a local event, and similar to last season, it will enjoy widespread television coverage as the weekend rounds will be broadcast live to over 200 countries and 650 million homes.
The full field Asian Tour event will also make a welcome return to the Seri Selangor Golf Club from June 20 to 23, 2013. The showpiece was staged at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in 2011 and 2012.
Thai legend Thaworn Wiratchant, who won the tournament last year before going on to win the prestigious Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown, will be expected to headline the event alongside many of the leading Asian Tour stars.
Worldwide Holdings, a 100 per cent subsidiary of PKNS – the development arm of the state of Selangor - continues to pledge its commitment to the Asian Tour by title sponsoring the Selangor Masters for the sixth successive year. The state-linked company has an impressive portfolio of businesses which include property development and investment, environmental management services and investment holding in Selangor.
Worldwide Holding’s support of the Selangor Masters is part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) where apart from sports sponsorship, it also supports the underprivileged through various community projects under the Yayasan Raja Muda.
“We are delighted to extend our association with the Asian Tour, whom we have forged a great relationship over the past six years. This is the second year that the Selangor Masters will be broadcast live and I’m confident Worldwide Holdings will enjoy amplified coverage on a local and global scale,” said Worldwide Holdings Chairman, YB Dato’ Noordin Sulaiman Abdul Rahman.
“Golf has come a very long way in Malaysia and the Selangor Masters has become one of the leading Asian Tour events in Asia. We hope more Malaysians will benefit from the opportunity to compete in the Selangor Masters and it is our hope that another local player will emulate Ben Leong’s outstanding victory in 2008.”
Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han lauded the support of Worldwide Holdings, one of many sponsors who have contributed to the success of the region’s premier Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10th season in 2013.
“We are proud to be associated with the Selangor Masters since 2008 and I would like to extend my gratitude to Worldwide Holdings and the Selangor Government for their unwavering support and commitment towards the game of golf in Asia,” said Han.
“Our talented players are excited to return to the Seri Selangor Golf Club which previously hosted Selangor’s showpiece event from 2008 to 2010 and it was the venue which Malaysia welcomed its third Asian Tour winner in Ben Leong.
“With live television coverage confirmed for the final two rounds which will reach a global audience via the Asian Tour Media’s platform, the tournament will enjoy massive exposure that will benefit Worldwide Holdings, the state of Selangor and Malaysia as a whole.”
Past champions of the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters include Leong (2008), Rick Kulacz of Australia (2009), Angelo Que of the Philippines (2010), Joonas Granberg (2011) and Thaworn last year.