Iskandar Johor Open among the richest on the Asian Tour

JOHOR BARU: The fifth edition of the Iskandar Johor Open (IJO) in November will set the stakes even higher as the prize money increases to US$2mil (close to RM6mil) from US$1.25mil in 2010. The golfing championship which debuted in 2007 with a modest purse of US$300,000, is now among the richest on the Asian Tour. This year’s winner will bring home US$317,000 (RM945,931) cash, compared to the US$198,125 won by Irishman Padraig Harrington who took the championship title in 2010.

Prized trophy: Johor Golf Association deputy president Tunku Abu Bakar (left) with Abdul Ghani holding the Iskandar Johor Open Challenge Trophy.

Harrington is among the top European Tour players to headline the stellar line-up of stars in the tournament which will be hosted for the second consecutive year by Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club. “Harrington will be coming back to defend his title and his presence is certainly exciting news for local golf fans,’’ said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who is also chairman of the IJO organising committee.

The year the IJO also hits a new milestone as it will, for the first time, be jointly sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours. Abdul Ghani said the co-sanctioning by the European and Asian Tours was among the reasons that drew the world’s top players to the event. The other factors were the bigger purse and the moving of the championship date from its traditional October slot to November. The IJO will be held from Nov 17 to 20.

Abdul Ghani said that besides steady growth in the total purse over the years, the championship had also seen an improved player roster. “Last year’s event featured a truly international field consisting of players from 24 countries, from as far as Brazil, Mexico and Zimbabwe,’’ he said. He added that the IJO would be a good avenue to promote Johor as a major holiday and recreational destination to a global audience, as the 2010 edition was broadcast to 40 countries reaching 400 million households.

-thestar online.