Indonesian Open golf event moves to the resort island of Bali
JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian Open has moved from the capital Jakarta to the resort island of Bali, with the US$1.25-million tournament attracting a strong field including Sweden’s Daniel Chopra and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.
The jointly sanctioned European Tour and Asian Tour event will be played from Thursday at the recently completed 7,361-yard, par-72 New Kuta Golf Club overlooking the world-famous surf at Balangan Bay.
Defending champion Felipe Aguilar of Chile will be back along with previous winners Mikko Ilonen of Finland, Simon Dyson of England and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant.
Chopra, 35, who has played in 10 different Tours on four continents before joining the PGA Tour in 2004, has claimed 14 victories including two U.S. PGA Tour events.
Jaidee was the first Thai golfer to win a European Tour event and last year claimed the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters and the Cambodian Open.
American Anthony Kang, who won the Malaysian Open two weeks ago, South African Anton Haig, Englishman Nick Dougherty and China’s Liang Wenchong are among the other top names expected to assemble in Bali.
Thaworn won the Indonesian Open at Jakarta in 2005 and is aiming for a record 11th Asian Tour title.
“This is a nice place to be playing golf. I’ve had a slow start (to the year) but I hope it will all change this week,” the former Asian No. 1 said. “The course is tricky and it will be a good test.
“My game has been inconsistent but. I have a feeling that things will change this week.”
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Add comment February 26th, 2009