Asian Tour: players get ready to chase Royal Troon spots as Malaysian Open marks start of ‘exciting year’
- Tour returns to Kuala Lumpur for first time since 2020, with tournament also an Open Championship qualifier
- Defending champion Trevor Simsby among strong field that includes Taichi Kho, Miguel Tabuena and rising Thai star Denwit Boriboonsub
The Asian Tour’s 2024 season gets under way in Malaysia on Thursday, and officials are hoping to have their biggest year yet.
With six International Series events already announced, the first of which takes place in Oman next week, and an extra stop in Africa for the regular Tour also on the cards, the expectation is to comfortably exceed the 23 events and US$35 million in prize money from 2023.
And there is more at stake than just the US$1 million up for grabs at the Mines Resort & Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur this week, with the Malaysian Open designated as one of two events where Open Championship places are available.
“The strength and depth of the Asian Tour’s 2024 schedule is reflective of the phenomenal growth we have been enjoying and we are already excited about what the new year will bring,” Cho Minn Thant, the Tour’s commissioner and CEO, said in an article on its website.
“The International Series events, combined with our central column of established tournaments, form the backbone of the Tour. We look forward to announcing other premier events in due course.”
Although not yet on the schedule, the Hong Kong Open will return in November as one of 10 International Series events expected to take place this season, and there are two stops in Macau, including a series tournament in March.
