Iskandar Johor Open returns to Horizon Hills as a season-ending tournament on Asian Tour
Johor Bahru, May 2, 2012 - The Iskandar Johor Open will become the Asian Tour’s season-ending tournament in 2012, further raising the stature of one of the region’s fastest growing and premier championships.
This year, the prestigious event will offer a lucrative prize fund of US$2 million when it returns to the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club from December 13 to 16.
The tournament has grown immensely in just a matter of five years since its launch as a US$300,000 event in 2007 and is now widely regarded as one of the major championships on the Asian Tour.
Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour, said: “We are delighted and honoured to announce that the Iskandar Johor Open will take up the premier position as the Tour’s season-ending championship in December. As the final full-field Asian Tour tournament of the 2012 season, the sixth edition of the Iskandar Johor Open will undoubtedly play a big role in determining the new Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.
“There will be plenty to play for at the Iskandar Johor Open as winning the Merit crown will earn exemptions into the British Open and World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship in the United States next year. It is for this reason that we expect all our top players who are vying for our prestigious Merit title to head to Horizon Hills. It certainly promises to be a spectacular week for golf fans and television viewers.”
Last year, Dutchman Joost Luiten claimed the coveted Iskandar Johor Open trophy and went home with the winner’s cheque of US$333,330, which propelled him to his highest world ranking position of 66th in the world.
Since the inaugural event, the Iskandar Johor Open has attracted an impressive line-up of world-class stars including the likes of South Africa’s Retief Goosen, K.J. Choi of Korea, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Colombian Camilio Villegas, Anthony Kim of the United States and Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee.
Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion, won the Iskandar Johor Open in 2008, Choi claimed victory in 2009 while Harrington, a three-time Major winner, tasted success when Horizon Hills hosted the tournament for the first time in 2010.
“Having a good playing field and providing a competitive line-up of stars for our local professional golfers is a very important criterion to us and I believe we have achieved that every year,” said the President of Johor Golf Association, Y.A.M Tunku Abdul Majid Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.
“This year will be no exception. The player field will consist of the best players from the Asian Tour, stars from around the world and the best local players who will once again have the opportunity to test their skills in the Iskandar Johor Open,” he added.
Such has been the quick growth of the Iskandar Johor Open that the event was honoured by the Asian Tour as the “Fastest Growing Tournament” in Asia during its Gala Awards Night last year.
The Iskandar Johor Open will be beamed live around the world on the Asian Tour’s global television platform. Through the Live, Highlights, Golf Show and Golfing World programmes, the Iskandar Johor Open will be accessible in over 200 countries and 650 million homes.
ISKANDAR JOHOR OPEN AT A GLANCE
PAST WINNERS:| Year | Champion | Country | Winning Score |
| 2007 | Artemio Murakami | Philippines | 5-under-par 279 |
| 2008 | Retief Goosen | South Africa | 12-under-par 276 |
| 2009 | K.J. Choi | Korea | 20-under-par 196 |
| 2010 | Padraig Harrington | Ireland | 20-under-par 268 |
| 2011 | Joost Luiten | Netherlands | 15-under-par 198 |
Growth of Iskandar Johor Open:
| Year | Venue | Prize Money |
| 2007 | Johor Golf & Country Club | US$300,00 |
| 2008 | Johor Golf & Country Club | US$500,000 |
| 2009 | Johor Golf & Country Club | US$1,000,000 |
| 2010 | Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club | US$1,250,000 |
| 2011 | Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club | US$2,000,000 |
| 2012 | Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club | US$2,000,000 |
About The Iskandar Johor Open
The Iskandar Johor Open is one of the fastest-growing tournaments on the Asian Tour, and has attracted some of the best golfers in the world. The event was successfully staged at the Royal Johor Country Club for the first three years, and at Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in 2010 and 2011.
It returns to Johor for the sixth time at Horizon Hills, where once again golf fans will be able to witness yet another exciting golf tournament which is staking its claim as one of the top events on the Asian Tour calendar.
Iskandar Malaysia and Johor Golf Association are continuing with their support of this event, and have created the biggest international event in Johor. Since the inaugural event in 2007, the prize money for the tournament has increased by five-fold from US$300,000 in 2007 to US$1,250,000 in 2010. In 2011, the prize money grew to a minimum of US$2,000,000 and will remain for 2012.
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About The Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Rolex (Official Timekeeper), Starwood Hotels and Resorts (Official Hotels and Resorts), Cityneon (Official Event Overlay Partner), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), BlackBerry (Official Smartphone and Tablet Partner) and Srixon (Official Ball). The Asian Tour has offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
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