JAKARTA, February 5, 2008 – Registration for the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open is now closed, revealing a slate of world-class golfers ready to battle out for the record prize purse of US$ 1.2 million at the popular Cengkareng Golf Club.
“We are pleased to confirm that Thongchai Jaidee, Arjun Atwal and Andrew Coltart will be competing at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open 2008,” said Ichsan Lumbantobing , Executive Vice President, Marketing and Customer Care, PT Direct Vision (Astro) . “Their presence, in addition to the previously confirmed Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Jeev Milka Singh, will ensure that this year's competition will be one of the best ever for an Indonesia Open.”
Popular with golf fans in Jakarta , Thongchai Jaidee is the first Thai golfer to win a European Tour event, winning the Malaysian Open in 2004 and successfully defended the title a year later. Currently ranked 6 th in the Asian Tour (and 99 th in the world), Thongchai didn't pick up golf until he was 16, and after a stint in the Royal Thai Army, finally turned professional at 30 years old. He is the first Thai to play in all four major championships and topped the Asian Tour's Order of Merit in 2001 and 2004. His best year-end ranking on the European Order of Merit was 37 th in 2006.
The second Indian golfer to enter the European Tour after Jeev Milka Singh, who will also be playing at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open 2008, Arjun Atwal was the first Indian to win a European Tournament with the 2002 Caltex Singapore Masters. He followed that up with a win at the Carlsberg Malaysian Open a year later. In addition to being the first player to break the US$1 million dollar mark in career earnings at the Asian PGA Tour, Arjun is a 6 time champion of the Asian PGA Tour and a 2 time champion of the European PGA Tour. He is currently ranked 34 th in the Asian Tour (and 430 th in the world).
Scotsman Andrew Coltart turned professional at the age of 21 and has been a fixture in the European Tour since 1993, winning the Qatar Masters in 1998 and the Great North Open in 2001. Andrew has also played in the 1999 Ryder Cup and is one of the sport's consistent players, tied for 13 th at the recent Qatar Masters. He is currently ranked 151 st in the European Tour (and 505 th in the world rankings).
“As the host for this prestigious tournament, we are delighted to attract such world-class players to come to Jakarta ,” says Mr. Fauzi Bowo, Governor of DKI Jakarta. “I am confident that we will show the world that Indonesia is an excellent host and call on all Jakartans to come and see for themselves a world-class sporting competition hosted within our beloved city.”
Since 2005, the Indonesia Open has been a highly competitive tournament, thanks to the participation of international calibered players such as Mikko Ilonen (2007 Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open champion), Simon Dyson (2006 champion) and Thaworn Wiratchant (2005 champion).
The tournament venue, the Cengkareng Golf Club, is the club of choice for many Jakarta residents, located just a swing away from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport . Managed by Hong Kong-based CCA International, the Cengkareng Golf Club was host to the first Indonesia Open in 2005 and has consistently maintained its international standards as a championship golf course.
The tournament is also Indonesia 's sole sporting event that offers a total purse of over one million dollars or US$ 1,200,000 to be precise. Last year, over 12,000 visitors came to directly view the competition over four days. This year, organizers are targeting 25,000 visitors.
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