Deborah Wong has been appointed as a referee for The 153rd Open Championship, set to take place from 17-20 July at the prestigious Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. This appointment by The R&A marks a significant milestone in her career and is a source of immense pride for the nation, the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA), and Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, where she has served as Lady Captain for 25 years.
With more than a decade of dedication to developing and promoting golf rules in Malaysia, Wong has built an impressive officiating résumé. Her experience spans numerous high-profile tournaments, including events sanctioned by the MGA, PGM Tour, Asian Tour, European Tour, LPGA Tour, Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), and the Hangzhou Asian Games. Her latest appointment to The Open further solidifies her standing as one of the region’s most respected golf referees.
Notably, she becomes the first female referee from Malaysia—and potentially Southeast Asia—to officiate at this ‘Major’ tournament, highlighting the increasing recognition of Malaysia’s contributions to the global golfing community.
Her appointment also serves as a tribute to the efforts of the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association (MALGA) and the Women in Golf Charter, reinforcing the commitment to advancing gender diversity within the sport.
As Wong prepares to take her place among golf’s elite referees at Royal Portrush, she remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards of the game and making Malaysia proud on the world stage.
