The PGA Tour announced Thursday that CIMB classic is moving from the mines at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club & for the tournament October 24-27. For the first time, the event will be a Malaysian official tournament calendar 2013-14. Tiger Woods played in last year's tournament. Along with Mickelson, past winners Nick Watney, Bo Van Pelt and Ben Crane are first commitments. An appeal to move to Kuala Lumpur is that the course is approximately 5 km from the heart of the city centre.
The CIMB Classic is a week before the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, the final World Golf Championship of the year. "The classic CIMB is now a marquee event on the PGA Tour calendar. The event has grown from strength to strength over the past four years. This year he makes his debut as a PGA Tour event with a higher prestige points and a new venue, "said Dato ' Sri Nazir Razak, Group Chief Executive, CIMB Group. "KLGCC is a place that will give us the steps we need to take it to the next level."
Opened in 1991, the West and East courses were completely redesigned and reopened in 2008 and 2010, respectively. The course is no stranger to world-class golf, serving as host, the European Tour and the Asian Tour Malaysian Open co for the last four years, as well as the LPGA Malaysia for the past three.
With the PGA Tour 2013 season prestige points currently on its way to the playoffs in August and September, there is added anticipation to 2013-14-aligned just season starting this October. The new season includes the CIMB will point classical prestige points as part of the 2013 season-long prestige points 14, making it the first official event of the PGA Tour prestige points, which will be held in Asia. Official prestige points reward points with more players on the PGA Tour are expected to make the trip in Malaysia for this year's event.
Mickelson, who is no stranger to Asia having participated in the Singapore Open annually since 2007, along with multiple appearances and two titles at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, will make its debut at CIMB Classic, as well as in Malaysia.
"I have heard great things about Kuala Lumpur and CIMB classic by guys who have played there. This will be my first visit to Malaysia, I'm really excited and looking forward to the experience, "Mickelson said."CIMB classic presents an excellent opportunity for PGA Tour players compete in Asia and is part and parcel of the game globally. I think it's great that the classic CIMB is part of prestige points; certainly pushes the competitiveness of the tournament and encourages the presence of American golfers in the region. "
Players will compete for increased prize money of $ 7 million, compared to $6,1 million last year. The tournament, which is co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour, will feature 78 players, with 60 from the PGA Tour from 10 Asian Tour and eight sponsor's exemptions, including two Malaysians.