PGM Tour will raise prize money to RM5mil next year

KUALA LUMPUR: The Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour enters their fourth full season next year with the total prize money rising by RM1mil to RM5mil.

PGA chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji is pleased with the remarkable performance and progress shown by Malaysian golfers on the Tour this season.

“We hope to make next year’s PGM Tour even better ... with the increased sponsorship and also more tournaments,” he said.

There will be 36 tournaments next year, including 11 satellite events. There were only 20 tournaments (including five satellite) this year.

“The satellite Tour is PGM’s grassroots programme to tap young talents for a career in professional golf,” said Ahmad.

“In all, there will be 25 tournaments on the Tour proper, of which 11 will be co-sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour (ADT). This also represents an increase from nine this year.

“The ADT events form an important component within the PGM ... to enable Malaysian golfers to come within the top 300 in the official world golf rankings and qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“We want to thank both the ADT and the Asean PGA for their continued support of the PGM Tour.”

The prize money for four tournaments – Lada Langkawi Masters, Sabah Championship, MNRB Sarawak championship and MIDF KL Golf and Country Club Championship – has been increased by RM50,000 each to RM250,000.

Among the newcomers on next year’s schedule are the Swiss-Garden Closed in Perak, Amverton Cove Closed in Negri Sembilan, the Putrajaya Championship in Putrajaya and the Tiara Closed in Malacca.

The Maybank Players Championship at the Saujana Golf and Country Club from Dec 11-14 is the last tournament for this year.

The new season will kick off with the I&P Tournament of Champions at the Templer Park Country Club in Rawang from Jan 13-16.