Maybank Malaysian Open (Golf) 2015

[Special Event]

The Maybank Malaysian Open is in its 10th year (read about my visit last year at – https://timchew.net/2014/04/21/maybank-malaysian-open-2014-veuve-cliquot-carnival/) and is an event which is co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour providing the event with Official World Ranking status. This time round, Maybank increased the prize purse for 2015 to US$3 million, up from the previous US$2.75 million in 2014.

In addition to world ranking and prize money, points earned at the Maybank Malaysian Open will contribute to the Asian Tour Order of Merit and will also count towards European Tour’s Race to Dubai 2015. Over the years the Maybank Malaysian Open has attracted world-class golfers such as Rory Mcllroy, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer and Charl Schwartzel.

Thanks to the nice folks at Carlsberg (again!), I got to attend the tournament at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) on both Saturday 7 February and Sunday 8 February 2015!

We got there early on Saturday and on the way to the Carlsberg VIP Lounge we passed by this Jaguar

Finally reached the lounge and these pretty Carlsberg girls were on hand to serve us ice-cold pints of Carlsberg as well as the other beers under the Carlsberg portfolio such as Asahi Super Dry, Kronenbourg 1664, Somersby cider, and even Danish Royal Stout!

Met my old FHM Girl Next Door 2010 Michelle Lee there. She 's now a presenter on Astro SuperSports! — Met my old FHM Girl Next Door 2010 Michelle Lee there. She ‘s now a presenter on Astro SuperSports!

We got to enjoy lots of good food throughout the day while watching the action on the TV screens

We also had a great view of the 18th hole

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All the while I was happily drinking my way through the Carlsberg portfolio and even created some delicious and refreshing mixes like this one which I call "Asaby"! — All the while I was happily drinking my way through the Carlsberg portfolio and even created some delicious and refreshing mixes like this one which I call “Asaby”!

Saturday was more relaxed and we even had a couple of players come up to the Carlsberg lounge for some beers after they finished their 18 holes.

Miguel Jimenez even poured his own beer!

Carlsberg Managing Director Henrik Anderson with Thongchai Jaidee

Some of the players even autographed some caps

There were a lot of people who came to watch on Sunday and some even braved the sun to follower their favourite players along the course

With Miss World Malaysia 2012 Lee Yvonne and Malaysian actress Jasmine

Lee Westwood who was last year's winner came by to visit the lounge — Lee Westwood who was last year’s winner came by to visit the lounge

The final day was pretty much a race between Weisberger, Lahiri and Waring with all three determined to win the tournament. Weisberger was leading all throughout Saturday and most of Sunday and looked untouchable until Lahiri’s incredible 40 feet putt for birdie on 17 took him to sixteen under par (-16) matching Weisberger.

Weisberger needed to sink this putt in order to have a playoff for the first place

Going going...and stopped short 6 inches from the hole! — Going going…and stopped short 6 inches from the hole!

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His disappointment was pretty evident and actually everyone watching was hoping that he would tie so that we could watch a playoff!

Weisberger was one flight behind Lahiri but hit a spectacular wedge shot on seventeen giving him a birdie however his vital putt (above) on the 18th to force a playoff giving Lahiri the win. Waring’s day finished with his first score over par of the week at 73 to take 3rd position tied with Canizares who also could not match his earlier score and finished with a 74 tied in 2nd place. Lahiri is the second Indian after Arjun Atwal (2003 and 2008) to win the coveted Seagram’s Trophy.

Crowd favourite, Graeme McDowell finished with a 75 and could not regain the form of the first day which led him to end the tournament at two under par (-2), tied 36th. Defending champion Lee Westwood who started the day at fourteen under par (-14) had a double bogey on his second and finished at three over par (+3) for the day tied in 5th position.

Leading the charge for Malaysia was Danny Chia who unfortunately lost his momentum after a bogey on nine and a double bogey on thirteen which took him back to five under par (-5) and finally finished with his second 74 of the week to be tied at 25th position at four under par (-4) and was awarded the Best Malaysian. Gavin Green came home at 32 and was awarded the tournament’s award for the Best Amateur. Sukree Othman could not maintain his form of the previous three days and finished at four over par (+4) with a final 76 after 3 bogies and a double bogey in his first nine holes. R. Nachimuthu maintained his score with an even par front nine before completing with a 77.