Sponsors of the Selangor Masters
A total of 60 Malaysians, including nine amateurs, will tee up on the challenging Ross Watson-designed Par 71 Seri Selangor layout for the US$150,000 Selangor Masters, which makes a welcomed return from 23-26 November 2022.
The Asian Development Tour (ADT) event sponsored by the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) was first held as an Asian Tour event in 2008 when Ben Leong won it. It was last held in 2014.
“When we heard there was an opportunity to host an Asian Development Tour event, we quickly jumped at the offer,” said Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amiruddin Shari, who is also the chairman of the PKNS Board at a press conference on 22 November.
“I am also happy to announce that this tournament is being organised in conjunction with the 77th birthday celebrations of His Highness the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharifuddin Idris Shah,” said Dato’ Seri Amiruddin, adding that the players will be contesting for the Sultan of Selangor Cup.
The Selangor Masters trophy
During the press conference, Dato’ Mahmud Abbas, the Chief Executive Officer of PKNS Holdings Sdn Bhd, said that the PKNS will be looking to host more golf events in the State and hope to one day sponsor one Asian Tour event.
Headlining the event will be Thailand’s stalwarts Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, who are respectively heading the ADT Order of Merit. At the end of the season, the top 10 professionals in the Order of Merit will gain cards to compete on the Asian Tour. Malaysia’s Sharifuddin Ariffin and Paul San are currently ranked 7th and 9th and will want to take advantage of home support to maintain their hopes for the 2023 Asian Tour.
Shariffuddin, familiar with the Seri Selangor layout, hopes to do well this week. “If I finish well, I’ll be able to improve my ranking on the ADT Tour. I hope to move to third place so that I will have a better chance of making it into the Asian Tour,” he said. He added that he would play in the Saudi Open on Dec 8-10 and the Taifong Open in Chinese Taipei on Dec 22-25.
Other notable players from Malaysia include Ervin Chang, currently ranked 15th, Ben Leong, Galven Green, Khor Kheng Hwai, Danny Chia, Airil Rizman and veteran M. Ramayah.
