CLASH OF CHAMPS IN 2010 M'SIAN OPEN

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- The first Asian to break into the World Top 10 ranking, K.J Choi from South Korea will lead 156 other golfers who will be participating in the RM7 million Maybank Malaysian Open 2010, which will be held at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) here from March 4-7.

Choi, a debutant in the Malaysian Open and the first Korean-born player to earn the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour card, however, will clash with other champions from the various tours, including two-time Maybank Malaysia Open champion (2004, 2005) Thongchai Jaidee and the Asian Tour's Prayad Marksaeng.

Besides the two Thais, Choi, who won the Iskandar Johor Open last year, will also have a hard time in dealing with the European Tour's Darren Clark.

"I am excited to be taking part in this year’s Maybank Malaysian Open. I have heard great things about this event and am looking forward to the warm Malaysian hospitality that I have always received when I’m in the country," he said in a statement today.

Joining K.J. Choi will be fellow PGA member Daniel Chopra who has Swedish-Indian parentage and also plays on the Asian Tour.

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SPORTS-GOLF 2(LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

The 2008 and 2009 champions of the Maybank Malaysian Open, Arjun Atwal and Anthony Kang alSo will be returning to the country’s shores for the prestigious Open.

Atwal won his second Maybank Malaysian Open title in 2008 overcoming then defending champion Peter Hedblom in a play-off. His first Maybank Malaysian Open title was in 2003.

Anthony Kang had a storybook ending with a thrilling one stroke victory at last year’s Maybank Malaysian Open, which earned him a two-year qualification exemption on the European Tour. He will be back in full force this year, hoping to defend his title and make an impressive start to the new season.

European Tour players Darren Clarke and Chris Wood also join the cast come March.

Past winners of the Malaysian Open since the year 2000:

2009 - Anthony Kang (USA)

2008 - Arjun Atwal (India)

2007 - Peter Hedblom

2006 - Charlie Wi (Korea)

2005 - Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand)

2004 - Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand)

2003 - Arjun Atwal (India)

2002 - Alastair Forsyth (Scotland)

2001 - Vijay Singh (Fiji)

2000 - Yeh Wei-Tze (Taiwan)

-- BERNAMA

ZAS AKT HA