Friday 30 January 2015

Star-studded cast at the Maybank Malaysian Open as Miguel Angel returns

Spanish star Miguel Angel Jimenez is set to make his fourth appearence at the Maybank Malaysian Open from Feb 5-8 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. - EPA
Spanish star Miguel Angel Jimenez is set to make his fourth appearence at the Maybank Malaysian Open from Feb 5-8 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. - EPA
 
PETALING JAYA: Pony-tailed Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez has joined the star-studded field at the US$3mil (RM10.88mil) Maybank Malaysian Open next week.

Defending champion Lee Westwood and Ryder Cuppers Victor Dubuisson, Graeme McDowell and team captain Paul McGinley were the first batch of stars to confirm their participation at the European Tour and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event.

The charismatic 51-year-old Jimenez is returning for his fourth appearance, having last played in 2006. The four-time Ryder Cup winner’s best finish was a tie for sixth spot in 2004 and 2005.

But Jimenez is heading to the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) from Feb 5-8 in buoyant mood after clinching his first title of the season at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii, which is the season-opener for the Champions Tour.

Last year, Jimenez became the first man over the age of 50 to win on the European Tour at the Spanish Open en route to clinching a remarkable 21st crown on the Tour.

Also joining Jimenez at the KLGCC are 23-year-old Frenchman Gary Stal and England’s Danny Willett, who picked up their European Tour victories recently, as well as multiple European Tour winner Robert Karlsson of Sweden and Stephen Gallacher of Scotland.

Stal will be pumped up after his maiden breakthrough at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship two weeks ago where he defeated world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
The 27-year-old Willett boasts two titles under his belt including a recent win at the South African Nedbank Golf Challenge last month.

Also in the line-up is South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun, whose famous victory over Tiger Woods at the 2009 PGA Championship made him the first Major champion from Asia.

Yong-eun will form the Asian brigade alongside two-time Malaysian Open champion Arjun Atwal of India, former Asian Tour No. 1 Liang Wen-chong of China and world No. 38 Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner.

Malaysia will be represented by 22 golfers led by Danny Chia, Nicholas Fung and Arie Irawan Fauzi.
-thestar online.

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