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WOODS IN THAILAND
Tiger Woods to Play in 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok
The world's number one golfer, Tiger Woods, is to return
to Bangkok for the 10th Johnnie Walker Classic, one of Asia’s biggest golf
events, to be held from November 16-19, 2000, at the scenic Alpine Golf and
Sports Club. Tiger will be attempting to regain the Johnnie Walker trophy from
New Zealander Michael Campbell who won last year's Johnnie Walker Classic in
Taiwan. Organised by United Distillers and Vintners (Asia
Pacific) with support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the 2000
Johnnie Walker Classic features a total prize money of $800,000 (about 48
million baht). The event will feature a starting field of 156 players from the
European, Australasian, and Asian Tours plus leading players from China, Hong
Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore,
Taiwan and Thailand. The first round of the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic will
tee off on Thursday, November 16. It will be preceded by the Opening Ceremony
and the Johnnie Walker Pro-VIP event on Tuesday, November 14, and the Johnnie
Walker Amateur Championship Pro-Am on Wednesday, November 15. This is the
fourth time for Thailand to host the Johnnie Walker Classic. The event rotates
among various cities in the region every year. This time the event will receive
live TV coverage worldwide on all four days of the championship, giving a major
boost to Thailand's golfing and tourism facilities. Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Pradech Phayakvichien
commented, "We are always happy to see Tiger coming back to Thailand. Such
major international golf events help promote the country's outstanding golf
facilities worldwide. This event is in line with our strategy to develop more
niche-market travel to Thailand and highlight the Kingdom's burgeoning
potential for golf holidays." Beautiful natural landscape and a wide choice of
attractions have made Thailand a natural venue for golf lovers. Golf in
Thailand is a growing attraction for not only professional and amateur golfers,
but also tourists, who are increasingly discovering the country's courses,
designed by some of the world's top golfing personalities including Jack
Niclaus, Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones. Designed by the well-known American
architect, Ronald M Garl, the 7,007 yard, Par 72 championship Alpine Golf
Course covers 770 rai (about 308 acres). It was also the venue for the 13th
Asian Games in 1998. TAT is projecting that more than 350,000 golfers will
visit Thailand in 2000. Edited
by Kerry Cohen |
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TM