Marcus Fraser will return to defend his Maybank Championship title when the tournament moves to Saujana Golf and Country Club from February 9-12, while Ryder Cup star Rafa Cabrera Bello will also appear in Malaysia for a second successive time.
Following a hugely successful inaugural edition last year, the tournament boasts another strong field which also includes the current Masters Tournament champion Danny Willett and another former winner of the year’s first Major, Charl Schwartzel.
Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat have also officially confirmed their attendance for the event, which is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Asian Tour.
Also included in the field are three-time European Tour winner Bernd Wiesberger, who makes his debut in the event having finished runner-up in his last appearance in Kuala Lumpur, at the Maybank Malaysian Open in 2015.
The event also gives important opportunities to local players, with title sponsors Maybank opening up invitation spots for the top player from five ASEAN countries (who would not qualify through their ranking on the Asian Tour Order of Merit), from Indonesia (George Gandranata), Myanmar (Ye Thet Aung), Philippines (Jubiv Pagunsan), Singapore (Koh Deng Shan) and Vietnam (Michael Tran).
Additionally, ten Malaysian players will be included, with Nicholas Fung and Danny Chia securing their places based on their Asian Tour Rankings and Ben Leong earning his berth after winning the PGM Maybank Players’ Championship.
Maybank ASEAN Ambassador Gavin Kyle Green also takes one of the local slots, and the remaining nine places go to R Nachimuthu, Sukree Othman, Khor Kheng Hwai, Airil Rizman Zahari, M Sasidaran, Kemarol Baharin, Iylia Jamil, Low Khai Jei and S Siva Chandhran.
Tan Sri Dato' Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor, Chairman of Maybank, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the five players selected to the Maybank Championship next month.
“We are excited to welcome the five ASEAN players selected to the Maybank Championship next month. I have no doubt these players will take pride in being selected as representing the talents from their respective countries, and will bring their best game, which is very much in line with our commitment to enhance the standards of professionalism in this region.”
Golfing fans coming to support their local players and enjoy the public holiday weekend at Saujana Golf and Country Club will be able to enjoy free entry on Thursday and Friday.
