Golf: More Major Winners to Compete in Indonesian Masters This Year

Jakarta Globe

The CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2013 is looking to be a star-studded event. After first announcing that Ernie Els and John Daly would compete in the tournament, the organizer has now confirmed that three other golf greats will participate this year.

The 2005 US Open winner, Michael Campbell, the 2011 British Open winner, Darren Clark, and the 2006 Indonesian Open winner, Simon Dyson, will all join the upcoming tournament at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club on May 2-5, the organizer announced on Monday.

“It is fantastic to see so many new stars confirmed for the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters 2013, which signifies our rapid growth. Our aim when we took up the title sponsor position in 2012 was to be a part of an international golf tournament, which helps to inspire Indonesian golfers as well as assist in the development of the game at the junior and amateur level,” Gatot Subagio, head of corporate communications of CIMB Niaga, said in the statement.

With Els, Daly, Clark, Campbell and Dyson, this is likely to be the strongest field since the tournament was launched in 2011, though the organizer announced on the tournament’s Facebook page that two-time winner Lee Westwood may not defend his title due to scheduling conflict.

“It is wonderful to see the addition of international stars for the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters, which keeps growing in stature with each passing year. As a full-field Asian Tour tournament, our talented members look forward to competing against many of the best players in the world at a truly wonderful venue in the Royale Jakarta Golf Club,” Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said.

“I would like to express our fullest appreciation to CIMB Niaga who is taking every effort to further raise the profile of this wonderful event which will profile Indonesia to the world.”

The organizer also announced the tee-off of the Indonesian Masters 2013 Amateur League series, which will be held at the host venue this month. The participants must play a minimum of three rounds to qualify for a ranking and at the end of series in March the leading golfer will win a spot to play in the May event, representing the Indonesia Golf Association (PGI).

The tournament will also have its own youth development initiative, holding monthly clinics for local junior golfers as well as a one-day qualifying tournament for 40 of the best local junior golfers to play in the tournament.