Owned by, and under Swedish management, Hua Hin’s flagship golf course Black Mountain Golf Club has landed an agreement to host the inaugural Thailand Classic, come February 2015.
This will be the first event co-sanctioned between the European Tour and Asian Tour to be permanently based in Thailand.
As the European Tour returns to Thailand’s shores after an eight hear absence the tournament will be the richest in the Kingdom, with a prize fund of US$2 million dollars.
The event will form part of the European Tour’s International Schedule, with prize money earned to count towards The 2015 Race to Dubai, a yearlong competition currently led by World Number One Rory McIlroy.
Taking place from February 12-15 this will be by far the largest event ever to take place in the Royal seaside resort, broadcasted on television worldwide.
Furthermore, it is confirmed that then next three instalments of this new Thailand Classic will be arranged there. With three Asian Tour tournaments having already taken place there, Black Mountain Golf Club is no stranger to hosting international competition.
Teeing it up at Black Mountain in February will include European Tour stars, having enjoyed success around the world, alongside some of Asia’s finest talent, including the best golfers from Thailand.
Harald Elisson, Managing Director of Black Mountain, is of course thrilled: “It is an honour to again work with the Asian Tour and we are excited and proud to start a new co-operation with The European Tour, the tournament promoter and sponsors.”
“We have the motivation to make this one of the most popular events on both Tours, are committed to presenting the course in great condition, and look forward to welcoming fans, players, sponsors and organisers alike to Black Mountain in February 2015.”
Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of the European Tour, said, “We are delighted to be returning to Thailand for the Thailand Classic in February, and Black Mountain Golf Club and Hua Hin are wonderful additions to the International Schedule.
“We would like to place on record our thanks to our new tournament promoters Muse Group, who have worked tirelessly to help us secure the Thailand Classic for a minimum of three years.
“As always we are delighted to accept the invitation of our long-standing co-sanctioning partners at the Asian Tour to stage another tournament in South-east Asia, and we look forward to working with them and the Professional Golfers Association of Thailand on our return to Thailand for the first time since 2007.”
“Thailand has been one of our strongest markets over the years and the addition of a new event will cement the nation’s place as one of Asia’s golfing giants,” said Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han.
The Thailand Classic, which boasts the highest prize money of any golf tournament in the Kingdom, is being promoted by MUSE Group, who has previously worked with FC Barcelona and Liverpool FC on their 2014 summer football tours in Thailand.
The European Tour International Schedule, which from 2009 has incorporated The Race to Dubai, is a thriving global brand which, in 2014, will feature a minimum of 48 tournaments spread across five continents; the European Challenge Tour focuses on the up and coming players of the future; while the European Senior Tour provides a new start for champions celebrating their 50th birthday.
