Having been held consecutively for 10 years, the Macau Open 2008 is going to kick off its 11th edition today at the Macau Golf & Country Club, at the Westin Resort Macau. This year, the prize fund will be boosted from a previous figure of US$300,000 to US$500,000, according to Kyi Hla Han, the executive chairman of the Asia Tour. “The increase in prize money is a reflection of the growth of the sport in the region with the Asian Tour staging 30 events this season and nearly US$40 million in total prize funds,” he said.

Yesterday the Asian Tour held a press session at the Westin Resort Macau wherein they also presented last year’s defending champion Lu Wen-teh and multiple winner Zhang Lian-wei. Zhang, who was the champion of Macau Open in 2001 and 2002, told the media that “ I feel like I’m back home,” adding that he could see the rapid development of the sport of golf in Macau over the past ten years. “The first 10 years of the [Macau Open tournament] has just passed, and I’m looking forward to the next 10 years,” said the 43-year-old.

“Although here [Macau] has yet to yield any professional golfer, I believe there will have more amateur golfers as well as professionals in the future and that will bring Macau to the international stage.” Meanwhile the 43-year-old continued that he has been practising for the past whole week and also  adjusting his conditions for the tournament while saying that he thought these were the best conditions for the golf tournament. The 43-year-old went on to add that his goal was simple, being “just to get to be the champion.”

Asking the Chinese former champion whether he had visited any casinos in Macau or not, he frankly said he did go to visit the casinos but had not put any stakes on the tables. Lu Wen-teh, the Chinese Taipei defending champion from last year, said that “the place here looks like my home in Taipei as both of them are located near the seashore. Despite the golf course not being very long, it contains certain degree challenges,” such as the gusts of wind that could come about. Therefore he smilingly said that the best strategy to tackle this condition was to be patient. “I hope to get an even better score than that of last year,” he added.

Speaking with the executive chairman of Asia Tour about whether or not the prize fund would be affected by the global financial crisis, he said that “we have been aware of it, but organisers or sponsors such as HSBC right now have shown no indication of wanting to cut back the prize money.” “We all hope for the best, not only for our golf tournament concerns but from the whole world as well, and right now I think the US PGA tour and European tours have showing no signs of turning down the event.” “And now we will announce our schedule next year and we have got confirmation of increasing tournaments,” added Han, adding that “I feel a little bit of confidence, but it’s still a challenge and we all hope for the best.”

The 2008 Macau Open is jointly organised by the Macau Sports Development Board (MSDB) and the Macau Golf Association. The media session yesterday had been presided over by Charles Lo, chairman of the Macau Golf Association, Vong Iao Lek, president of the MSDB and Kyi Hla Han, the executive chairman of the Asia Tour. The Macau Open tournament will run from today until Sunday, October 26. After completing the Macau stop, the Asia tour will move to the Iskandar Johor Open, Malaysia on October 30.

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