The inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia will make its debut on The European and Asian Tour Schedules from February 18-21, 2016.
The new tournament, which will carry a prize fund of US$3 million, builds upon Maybank’s successful relationship with The European and Asian Tours over the last ten years, with Malaysia’s biggest bank having sponsored the country’s national Open from 2006-2015.
Tan Sri Dato Megat Zaharuddin, Chairman of Maybank, said: “Next year golf will return to the Olympic Games, and we want this tournament to be an important staging point for our professional golfers who can represent the country in Rio.
“In addition, our aim in staging our own Championship is to ensure that our objectives in projecting our brand to our stakeholders worldwide, and to support our community aspirations, can be sustained in the best possible way.”
Tan Sri Megat added that Maybank was honoured to have played a leading role in raising the profile of golf in Malaysia, and indeed throughout the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, through its title sponsorship of the Maybank Malaysian Open.
He said: “We believe that now is an opportune time for Maybank to introduce our Championship, as it will have the added aim of developing ASEAN golfing talent by providing a fixed number of spots to top ASEAN golfers.
“In addition, as a leading regional financial services provider, we intend to extend this Championship to the regional level where we can further promote golf among ASEAN communities. We believe this is an appropriate role we can play as part of our corporate responsibility in helping to build ASEAN together.”
The venue for the Maybank Championship Malaysia will be announced in the coming months.
“We want the venue to provide the challenge expected by the top-class field, yet fulfil our other aspirations to promote Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia, not just as a golfing destination but also as a city and country rich in heritage and diversity,” said Tan Sri Megat.
Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of The European Tour, said: “It is great news for the country, and indeed the entire South East Asian region, that Maybank has extended its sponsorship portfolio to include their own Championship.
“Maybank’s support of golf over the past decade has been superb, and we look forward to growing our relationship with them and developing the Maybank Championship Malaysia over the coming years. With golf returning to the Olympics next year, this tournament gives Asian players the perfect platform to gain some valuable World Ranking points and stake a claim for a place in Rio.”
Mike Kerr, Chief Executive Officer of the Asian Tour, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Maybank to develop professional golf in Asia through the staging of the inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia next year. Maybank has been one of the longest-serving supporters and sponsors in Asia, and Tan Sri Megat’s vision in creating this new tournament is a strong endorsement for the game in Malaysia, and South East Asia in general.
“We also look forward to working closely again with our partners, The European Tour, to ensure the successful launch of the Maybank Championship Malaysia.”
Tan Sri Razali Rahman, Chairman of the tournament promoters Global One, said: “We are excited to extend our decade long relationship with Maybank, and to have assigned our preferred dates with our partners, The European and Asian Tours. The tournament should attract global stars competing against the best in Asia, and will help Maybank further expand its reach.”
