Chowrasia, Jaidee confirms participation in Malaysia open

Chowrasia, Jaidee confirms participation in Malaysia open

KUALA LUMPUR: Indian golfer SSP Chowrasia, who recently won the Avantha Masters in New Delhi, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand on Tuesday confirmed their participation at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 from April 14 to 17. The 32-year-old Chowrasia ended his three-year title drought by clinching the Avantha Masters title amid home crowd at the tri-sanctioned Asian Tour, European Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) event last month. The Kolkata golfer, who secured the inaugural Indian Masters title in 2008 beating the likes of South Africa's Ernie Els and Alvaro Quiros of Spain, will hope to produce another good performance at the $2.5 million event. Thai star Thongchai, on the other hand, will be gunning for a third Malaysian Open victory following wins in 2004 and 2005. He finished runner-up in 2006 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country golf business cards shirts, which will host the Open for the second straight year next month. The 41-year-old, who turned professional at the age of 30, currently holds the record for most wins on the Asian Tour with 13 titles to his name. Last season, he collected his 13th win at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open. In 2008 and 2009, the three time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion won twice in each season but has voiced his ambition to land a first victory on European soil. Both Chowrasia and Thongchai will face one of the biggest challenges of their career at the Maybank Malaysian Open as they will go up against world number one Martin Kaymer of Germany, promising teen sensation Rory McIlroy of Ireland and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, the reigning British Open champion, and Charl Schwartzel. This year, the tournament reaches a milestone as it celebrates its 50th edition with many of the world's best Newest Golf News about Hunter Mahan to compete at the renowned Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Making history as the first ever co-sanctioned tournament in Asia by both the European and Asian Tours in 1999, the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 will feature top players from the rankings of both these world-leading circuits to make up the 156-player line-up. Points earned at the Maybank Malaysian Open 2011 will go towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit, and will also add to the player's 2011 Race to Dubai Ranking, granting them a chance to qualify for the season-ending Dubai World Championship.