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Crowd favourite Couples to star in Australian Open

Former US Masters champion to tee up at The Lakes

Crowd favourite Couples to star in Australian Open

Sydney, September 2: American Fred Couples, one of the most popular and successful players in the game, has confirmed he will compete in this year’s Australian Open on OneAsia.

The 50-year-old former US Masters champion who is currently enjoying an outstanding maiden season on the Champions Tour will draw the crowds when the championship tees-off at The Lakes in Sydney from December 2 to 5.

Prize money for the prestigious event will be US$1.3 million (AU$1.5 million) and for the second successive season it will be the penultimate leg on OneAsia.

Minister for Major Events Kevin Greene said Sydney is synonymous with the Australian Open, a flagship event of our great sporting nation, first played in Sydney in 1904.

“To have one of golf’s most respected players Fred Couples playing this year is an honour for Sydney and this historic tournament.

“Together with Golf Australia we have a vision to transform the Australian Open into the pre-eminent golf tournament on OneAsia ,” Minister Greene said.

Couples is the latest big name addition to the tournament which will also feature defending champion Adam Scott from Australia and his compatriots Greg Norman, a five-time winner of the event, and Geoff Ogilvy.

American John Daly also recently announced he will join the stellar field.

Said Couples: “I am very much looking forward to playing in the Australian Open in particular The Lakes Golf Club. I have not been to Sydney for some time and look forward to visiting this magnificent city once again.”

Couples’ participation will also mean the tournament will provide golf fans with the exciting chance to see last year’s two Presidents Cup captains. The American captained his side to victory over Norman’s International Team.

Couples continues to play golf at the highest level. This year he won his first Champions Tour event in only his second start at ACE Group Classic and went on to win two more tournaments.

During a glittering career he claimed the US Masters in 1992 and won 14 other US PGA Tour titles. He triumphed in the World Cup with Davis Love III for four consecutive years from 1992 and played in five Ryder Cups.

He is known the world over as “Boom boom” because of the huge drives he hits with his effortless and much admired swing.

Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said “With a top six finish at Augusta and three wins on the Champions Tour, Fred is an outstanding competitor and one of the world’s most exciting players to watch.

Watching both Presidents Cup captains alongside fan favourite John Daly will be a major thrill for our crowds.”

Last year Scott won his first Australian Open title by five shots over compatriot Stuart Appleby after a tense final round at the NSW Golf Club.

The Australian Open was first played in 1904 and has been won by the biggest names in the game. South African Gary Player has lifted the Stonehaven Cup a record seven times while Jack Nicklaus from the United States has been victorious on six occasions.

The Australian Open is a flagship sporting event on the NSW Master Events Calendar developed by Events NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.

The championship will be showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.

Full coverage of the event will be available domestically on Network Ten, as well as internationally on ESPN Star Sports, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Channel, Fox International, Sky Sports NZ, ESPN3 & America One in the USA, ViaSat & Bloomberg Television among others in Europe.

Tickets for the Australian Open go on sale from today and can be purchased through Ticketek by phoning 13 28 49 or www.ticketek.com.au.

- Ends -

For more information, please contact:

Hamish Jones - Golf Australia

P: +61 438 052 585

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Tony Roosenburg - TRP Sports

P: +61 418 390 499

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Simon Wilson - World Sport Group

P: +65 6826 2688

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Janice Lee Fang - OneAsia

P: +65 8268 8155

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Sydney, September 2: American Fred Couples, one of the most popular and successful players in the game, has confirmed he will compete in this year’s Australian Open on OneAsia.

Liang jumps up World Rankings after Thailand Open Victory

Liang closer to Top 50 goal

Singapore, 30 August '10: China’s Liang Wenchong has risen to world number 57 after his dramatic win in the US$1 million Thailand Open on OneAsia at the weekend.

Liang jumped seven places after taking the title and is now the fourth ranked Asian on the world rankings behind Koreans Y. E. Yang (37th) and K. J. Choi (49th) and Japan young gun Ryo Ishikawa (56th).

Liang rules the kingdom with Thailand Open victory

Chon Buri, 29 August 2010: China’s Liang Wenchong once again showed he is a world class player by winning the US$1 million Thailand Open at Burapha Golf Club.

The 32-year-old claimed his third OneAsia title by one shot after holding off a spirited challenge from young Thai star Namchok Tantipokhakul and veteran Michael Wright from Australia.

Liang, who started the day with a one shot lead, closed with a three-under-par 69 for a tournament total of 18-under-par 270

Namchok, aged 23, was roared on by the spectators and shot 69 while Wright fired 68.

In an incredibly close finish which saw the lead being tied on several occasions Liang made a crucial birdie on the par-four 16th after holing a 30 foot putt.

“I am very excited and I really enjoyed this tournament. It was close all the way as there were some very good players trying to win,” said Liang.

Two weeks ago Liang finished joint eighth in the US PGA Championship so he arrived as the pre-tournament favourite.

“I was very tired when I arrived as my schedule has been hectic. So I wasn’t very sure how this week would go. It gives me a lot of confidence to know I can play at this level after such a busy stretch,” added the Chinese golfer, who won US$180,000.

Liang played steady golf today but birdies were hard to come by as he only made three.

The silverware will sit in his cabinet along with his two other OneAsia trophies the 2009 Midea China Classic and this year’s season-opening Luxehills Chengdu Open.

The victory has also moved him to the top of the OneAsia Order of Merit with earnings of US$439,200 from the four events he has played in.

Namchok, highly rated by all his peers, was bidding to become only the second Thai player to win his national Open.

He appeared to be out of the running his with nine straight pars on the outward half but raised the hopes of the home fans by coming home in three under.

“Today I was very calm and did not feel under any pressure. The turning point was the 15th and 16th. I did not get birdies there and Liang holed his long birdie putt at the 16th,” said Namchok.

Namchok won the Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit title last year following two victories.

“I am very proud of my achievement in my first Thailand Open. The spectators were great – they were willing me to win. This is my best performance in an international tournament and I want to go on and represent Thailand in overseas events,” added Namchok, who just missed a 45 foot birdie putt on the last to force a play-off.

An eagle by Wright on the par-five 14th saw him come close to recording an upset victory.

Said Wright: “This has been one of my best weeks ever. Actually I did not hit it that good – my performance was all about positive self talk. I am usually the first to beat the hell out of myself mentally if things go wrong but this week I made sure I did not do that. I have been working hard and this is the reward. I am wrapped. It would have been nice to win but I am very happy at my second place.

The week's event has been showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.

This year’s Thailand Open is being co-sponsored by Singha Corporation, PTT Public Company Limited, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Emirates, and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited.

The next event on OneAsia is the Korea Open at Woo Jeoung Hills Golf Club from October 7 to 10.

Leading final round scores:

Par 72

Thai unless stated

270 - Liang Wenchong (CHN) 67 67 67 69

271 - Michael Wright (AUS) 70 66 67 68, Namchok Tantipokhakul 69 66 67 69

272 - Kang Sung-hoon (KOR) 70 69 68 65

273 - Udorn Duangdecha 72 60 75 66, Matthew Griffin (AUS) 68 65 70 70, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 72 63 67 71

274 - Simon Yates (SCO) 72 70 65 67, Pijit Petchkasem 69 67 69 69, Thaworn Wiratchant 71 70 67 66

275 - Shingo Katayama (JPN) 70 71 68 66, Andre Stolz (AUS) 67 69 72 67, Michael Hendry (NZL) 70 70 65 70

276 - Stephen Allan (AUS)70 66 70 70, Neven Basic (AUS) 70 68 68 70

278 - Chinnarat Phadungsil 73 66 72 67, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 68 67 73 70

279 – Anthony Summers (AUS) 75 68 68 68, Kiradech Aphibarnrat 70 74 65 70, Danny Chia (MAS) 70 68 71 70, Poom Saksansin (a) 71 72 66 70, Kwon Sung-youl (KOR) 69 70 70 70, David Bransdon (AUS) 69 70 66 74

Selected:

280 – Mardan Mamat (SIN) 71 70 68 71

- ENDS -

About OneAsia

OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize elite tournament opportunities in Asia-Pacific. The Founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. The mission of OneAsia is not just to allow the region’s best players to gain access to more events, but to ultimately provide them with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour, thus retaining the best golfing talent in the region without compromising their development.

For more information, please contact:

Janice Lee Fang

PR & Media Manager - OneAsia

Mobile: +65 8268 8155

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Simon Wilson

Media Manager - World Sport Group

Mobile: +65 9127 5419

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Third OneAsia win for China's No. 1

Chon Buri, 29 August 2010: China’s Liang Wenchong once again showed he is a world class player by winning the US$1 million Thailand Open at Burapha Golf Club.

The 32-year-old claimed his third OneAsia title by one shot after holding off a spirited challenge from young Thai star Namchok Tantipokhakul and veteran Michael Wright from Australia.

Duangdecha's day at Thailand Open

Chon Buri, 27 August 2010: Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha shot a sensational 12-under-par 60 to take the halfway lead in the US$1 million Thailand Open on OneAsia today.

The 39-year-old, who has become famous for wearing flamboyant golf gear, moved to 12-under-par 132 for the tournament and a one stroke lead over Australian Matthew Griffin.

Griffin returned a 65, while Chinese number one Liang Wenchong is a stroke further back after carding a 67.

Unfortunately Udorn’s remarkable round could not stand as a record as preferred lies were played.

It was a bogey free round which saw him start on the tenth and make the turn in five-under-par 31. He then tore apart the next nine in 29 shots. He made six birdies in a row starting on the 18th before crossing over to continue his birdie spree.

The man from Chiang Mai, who has been a professional for nearly 20 years, won the Singha Pattaya Open on the Mercedes-Benz Tour here at Burapha in April.

He has played on the course many times in local events and has rarely had a bad round.

“I love this course because it keeps making me a lot of money,” joked Udorn.

After the round there was more of a confident air about him rather than one of surprise.

“Everything went to plan today. In the first round I tried too hard. I told myself to relax and it all came together. I was not nervous at all. I knew what I had to do,” he added.

Nine of his birdie putts were from inside 12 feet. The other birdies came from a chip in, and one long putt from 40 feet.

Griffin, ranked the number three amateur in the world before turning professional in 2008, also did not drop a shot as he bid for his first big breakthrough win.

“I played really well and kept the ball in place nicely. I have been putting myself into good positions in tournaments for a while but have not been able to finish off the job. I am trying to learn to relax more and that’s my plan for the weekend. It will take good attacking golf and low scores to win this,” said Griffin.

Liang, a two-time winner on OneAsia, started the day in the joint lead and appeared to be forging ahead after making three birdies on the trot from the second.

However a level par back nine saw him lose ground slightly.

Said the 32-year-old Liang: “I missed some birdie chances which was disappointing and dropped shots at the fifth and 11th. Overall I am quite happy with my play and I am only a couple of shots behind. I have to work out the key to scoring well on the back nine around here. Over the two days I have had 11 birdies on the front nine but just two on the back nine.”

Thailand’s Namchok Tantipokhakul and Australians Terry Pilkadaris and Brad Kennedy are joint fourth three off the lead. They shot rounds of 66, 63 and 67 respectively.

Namchok won last year’s Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit title after two victories and is continuing to make a name for himself. He eagled the par five-10th, which was his opening hole.

“I have been playing well this year and I am confident with my game – I think I have a chance of winning. Every Thai player wants to win the King’s Trophy (awarded to the winner of the Thailand Open). To win this week would make me very proud,” said Namchok.

The halfway cut was made at level par 144.

Malaysian number one Danny Chia carded a 68 and is six under for the tournament.

New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, winner of the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta, fired a 70 and is four under.

Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand, Singaporean Mardan Mamat, and Japan’s Shingo Katayama are a shot back.

The week's event will be showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.

Full coverage of the event will be available across South East Asian and domestically on ESPN Star Sports, as well as internationally on Network Ten, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Channel, Fox International, Sky Sports NZ, ESPN3 & America One in the USA, ViaSat & Bloomberg Television among others in Europe.

This year’s Thailand Open is being co-sponsored by Singha Corporation, PTT Public Company Limited, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Emirates, and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited.

Leading second round scores:

Par 72

Thai unless stated

132 – Udorn Duangdecha 72 60

133 – Matthew Griffin (AUS) 68 65

134 – Liang Wenchong (CHN) 67 67

135 – Namchok Tantipokhakul 69 66, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 72 63, Brad Kennedy (AUS) 68 67

136 – Andre Stolz (AUS) 67 69, Stephen Allan (AUS) 70 66, Michael Wright (AUS) 70 66, Pijit Petchkasem 69 67

137 - Pariya Junhasavasdikul 67 70

138 – Neven Basic (AUS) 70 68, Danny Chia (MAS) 70 68

- ENDS -

About OneAsia

OneAsia is a non-profit organisation developed to maximize elite tournament opportunities in Asia-Pacific. The Founding members of OneAsia are the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia. The mission of OneAsia is not just to allow the region’s best players to gain access to more events, but to ultimately provide them with an alternative pathway to the PGA Tour and the European Tour, thus retaining the best golfing talent in the region without compromising their development.

For more information, please contact:

Janice Lee Fang

PR & Media Manager - OneAsia

Mobile: +65 8268 8155

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Simon Wilson

Media Manager - World Sport Group

Mobile: +65 9127 5419

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Local Udorn blazes his way with 12-under

Chon Buri, 27 August 2010: Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha shot a sensational 12-under-par 60 to take the halfway lead in the US$1 million Thailand Open on OneAsia today.

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