The Asian Tour Olympians will head to the Omega European Masters in search of more glory when the Swiss showpiece gets underway from September 1 to 4.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, who finished tied fifth at the Men’s Olympic Golf last week, will be among the star-studded cast at the €2.7 million (approximately US$3 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
Thongchai Jaidee, also of Thailand, Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, S.S.P. Chawrasia of India, Jeunghun Wang of Korea and Siddikur Rahman, who was the flag bearer for Bangladesh in the opening ceremony of the Olympics will also feature at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
Marcus Fraser, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, and Scott Hend, a nine-time Asian Tour champion, who both represented Australia in Rio de Janeiro will also be in the elite field.
Ranked 56th in the world, the big-hitting Kiradech will carry his fine form to the Omega European Masters as he chases for a third Asian Tour victory and his first on European soil. David Lipsky of the United States is the only Asian Tour member to win the Omega European Masters in 2014.
“The Olympics was one of my best weeks ever. I had a great time there and look forward to the next Olympics in Tokyo,” wrote Kiradech on his Twitter account.
Siddikur enjoyed another first in his career when he represented his country at the Olympics and led the Bangladeshi team during the opening ceremony. He is also the first golfer from Bangladesh to play and win two titles on the Asian Tour.
“I am so glad that I managed to play in the Olympics for my country. It was a great honour when I carried our flag in the opening ceremony,” said the 31-year-old Siddikur.
Fraser was in contention for a gold medal before settling for a share of fifth place and he will now turn his attention to the Order of Merit race where he leads after winning the Maybank Championship Malaysia earlier this year.
This year’s Omega European Masters will be the 70th time the event will be staged at the picturesque Crans course, making it the longest running golf tournament at the same venue in Europe and second in the world after The Masters at Augusta National.
The event is also the first tournament on European soil to be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
