Maybank going on their own
The inauguration next year of the Maybank Championship Malaysia looks set to usher in a new and exciting era for the local game
IN a move that will almost certainly alter the complexion of the Malaysian landscape, the announcement this week by Maybank that they will host their “own” golf tournament – the Maybank Championship Malaysia – can only be viewed as being of a positive nature.
With the conclusion of this year’s Maybank Malaysian Open, the bank’s sponsorship of the event came to an end, bringing to a close a decade-long partnership that went a long way to consolidating the national Open as a genuine international tournament.
Effectively, this week’s developments mean that this country stands on the threshold of staging four huge international tournaments, collectively offering prize money in the region of RM50mil (about US$13mil) – that is, if the Malaysian Golf Association, the custodians of the Malaysian Open, secure sponsorship to the tune of US$3mil like Maybank put up in February.
The other big tournaments staged here are the US$7mil CIMB Classic, a regular stop on the US PGA Tour schedule, and the US$2mil Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
Probed for comment on the matter, a spokesperson for the MGA said they were already in the throes of securing a new sponsor for the national Open but declined to name-drop anyone, suffice to say that an announcement would be made “in due course”.
“Negotiations are underway with a prospective sponsor for the Malaysian Open next year and we will announce the partnership once all the formalities are finalised,” added the spokesperson.
Maybank’s decision to go it on their own is largely a business one, if one gleans anything from the comments of chairman Tan Sri Datuk Megat Zaharuddin, who said that they believed now was an opportune time to introduce their championship and play a more significant role in the community building of the Asean region.
Megat added that with this tournament they would also nurture budding Asean talent by providing “a fixed number of spots” for players from the region.
Without divulging where the tournament will be held, Megat said that they wanted “the venue to best provide the challenge expected by the top-class field”, yet also help promote Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia, not just as a golf destination of note, but also illuminate its rich heritage and diversity.
With this in mind, a calculate guess would have Royal Selangor Golf Club at the top of the list, a venue situated right in the middle of Kuala Lumpur,
The thinking behind this is that the new event is unlikely to be held at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country, if only because KLGCC already stages the CIMB Classic, Sime Darby LPGA and the Malaysian Open.
This is not say the club cannot handle another tournament of this magnitude, but rather that the another venue be drawn into the equation if only for a greater spread of things around town.
There are perhaps only one or two other clubs at most in the Malaysian capital that might be in a position to cater for a tournament like this, but even then there would issues to be sorted out if they were to be called upon.
The Maybank Championship has been endorsed by both the Asian Tour and European Tour, who will add the tournament to their schedules next year.
With this, Keith Waters, the chief operating officer of the European Tour said a statement that it was “great news for the country, and indeed the entire South-East Asian region”, that Maybank was embarking on sponsoring their own championship by extending their sponsorship portfolio.
“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,” said Waters.
“With golf returning to the Olympic Games 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 de Janeiro.”
Similarly, Asian Tour chief executive officer Mike Kerr said they were “delighted” to continue their partnership with Maybank in develop golf in the region.
“Maybank has been one of the longest serving supporters and sponsors in Asia and Tan Sri Megat’s vision in creating their own tournament is a strong endorsement for the game in Malaysia and South-East Asia in general.
“We look forward to working closely again with our partners, the European Tour, to ensure the successful launch of the Maybank Championship Malaysia.”