KUCHING: As the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour prepares for its fifth full season in 2015, there was encouraging news delivered on Tuesday that the tour would be bigger and better.
In outlining the mechanics of what will essentially make up the Tour next year, PGM Tour chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji said it would comprise four tournament levels of components with a total prize money of RM6.235 million.
The increase of RM1.2 million this season will see 43 events in all, staged next year. The PGM Tour will co-sanction 12 tournaments with the Asian Development Tour (RM2.45 million) and three with the Asean PGA Tour (RM540,000).
Fifteen Closed Championships, designed exclusively for the local pros, have been incorporated into the schedule, which is by far, the highest and most ambitious programme of the PGM.
There will be RM2.795 million on offer and a further RM200,000 for 12 PGM Development Tour Q-School events.
The Tournament of Champions, for which only past winners are eligible, will carry RM250,000 in prize money as well as world ranking points, while the season-ending Players Championship will also earn the champion a slot in the Maybank Malaysian Open the following year.
In a wide-ranging review of this season Sarji said they were pleased with the way things turned out and added that they were looking forward to it winding down next month.
He noted that on their Order of Merit 15 of the top-30 players are below the age of 25 and said this augured well for the Tour as there was young blood coming through the ranks.
Sarji also acknowledged the support of their sponsors, the golf clubs with whom the Tour has partnered, the players and the media, alike.
“Without one or all of these key components, the PGM Tour will not be able to function effectively and thus, we are most grateful for the support each and every one of them has extended to us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han said they were only too happy to be part of the PGM Tour schedule and added that they would continue to work “hand-in-hand” with the Malaysian circuit, which he described as “crucial” to the development of the Asian game.