Brunei Looks Forward To Its Own Tiger  Woods

www.bruneitourism.com The visionaries behind Brunei's first professional golf tournament believe the Brunei Open will rival Asia's richest national Championships in the near future and along the way uncover its Bruneian version of Tiger Woods.

The inaugural US$300,000 Brunei Open will make its much-awaited debut on the Asian Tour at the spectacular Empire Hotel and Country Club next week, from June 23-26, but officials are already thinking of long-term goals.

While the historic first event will put the sultanate firmly on the international golfing map, Brunei authorities do not intend to do things in half measures. For a start, they want the Brunei Open to develop into a multi-million dollar national Championship, worthy of taking its place alongside established Opens such as in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

"This is history for Brunei golf," said Brunei Tourism Director Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed, an avid amateur golfer himself and one of the prime movers of the Brunei Open.

"This is the first time the government is putting in our resources to host the Brunei Open and it can certainly become bigger and better. A prize fund of US$300,000 is a good start but we want the Brunei Open to join the family of events that offer prize money of over US$1 million and above. This can be achieved in five years time, or even sooner."

Golf is still very much at its infancy stage in Brunei, which has yet to produce its first touring professional. The Royal and Ancient game was introduced in the sultanate in the early 20th century through expatriates who worked in the oil industry. A nine-hole course in Kampung Bunut was the only facility then but when local senior executives got hooked to the game, other courses were built to meet the growing interest.

Now, there are five 18-hole courses and two nine-hole layouts in Brunei to cater for an estimated of 3,000 local golfers. The Jack Nicklaus-designed Empire course, which overlooks the South China Sea, is undoubtedly the jewel of the crown.

The nation with a moderate population of 380,000 people is determined to produce calibre golfers in the mould of Zhang Lian-wei of China, Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant or India's Jyoti Randhawa and the Brunei Darussalam Golf Association is working closely with the Ministry of Sports to mould home-grown champions.

"The Brunei Open will create keener interests amongst our juniors. They can watch golf on television but our kids will benefit greatly by watching the pros with their own eyes. That's one of the reasons why we are bringing the Brunei Open to their doorsteps and entrance is free for them.

"It is our goal to see a Bruneian player become world-class in 10 to 15 years time. Our children know Tiger Woods and they will see that golf can provide a lucrative career. Brunei Tourism is doing this not only to promote our nation but we want to create an event that can excite golf fans in Brunei. Hopefully we can find our very own Tiger," said Sheikh Jamaluddin.

Brunei Darussalam Golf Association vice president Pehin Ariffin said the idea of hosting Brunei's first national Open was mooted some years back but it did not get off the ground due to the unavailability of a championship course.

"But in Empire Country Club, we now have a world-class course. Our golf association wants more kids to play golf and through the Ministry of Sports, we are inviting more school children to learn the game.

"The Brunei Open will generate interests amongst our young players. They know all about Tiger Woods and hopefully, the Brunei Open will go a long way in helping our golf development," said Ariffin.

As one of the pioneers of the professional game in China, Zhang, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, offered his advice to Brunei's golf authorities, saying they should build on the launch to develop golf more extensively.

"It is certainly a great thing for Asian golf to be adding a new event to its calendar, and that too in a new country. The (Asian) Tour is growing all over and not just in China as many people argue. The growth within the rest of Asia is important for the Tour and development of the game. 

"Having professional golf in Brunei will ultimately lead to a player from Brunei representing the nation on the international scene. Young players need goals to aspire to.   Winning a national Open is one and then succeeding on the regional circuit or world stage is another. 

"Every level of the game needs attention, and even for local professionals, the Open alone is only the start. Officials should not ignore the professional ranks during the other weeks of the year. This event should help boost Brunei as a golf destination but the growth also needs to happen from within," said Zhang.

India's Amandeep Johl, who is also the Chairman of the Tournament Players Committee on the Asian Tour, believes the emergence of Asia's newest event could lead to other tournaments being launched across the region.

"The Asian Tour endeavours to take high quality professional golf to each and every country in Asia that plays golf. That is one of the main reasons for the formation of the new Asian Tour and with the Brunei Open coming on board, we are getting ever so close on achieving that. Last year we staged a new event in Vietnam and this year, we're visiting Brunei.

"Asia is such a huge continent that I believe if we have an event in each country , the Asian Tour could become one of the most colourful and interesting golf Tours in the world," said Johl, who will be teeing up at Empire course next week.

Asian Tour Chief Executive Louis Martin said the Tour would support Brunei's vision and assist in development programmes if requested. "Assisting Brunei with the launch of its national Open is a terrific milestone for the Asian Tour. It is our vision to establish national Opens across Asia's emerging golf nations and we would also be delighted to assist in the development of golf in any possible way," said Martin.