NEWS RELEASE

Retief Goosen, latest top player to sign up for Iskandar Johor Open 2008
Replaces Vijay Singh who withdrew because of injury

DJOHOR BAHRU (Tuesday, 21 Oct 2008): Two time US Open winner Retief Goosen has signed up for the US$500,000 Iskandar Johor Open (IJO) at the Royal Johor Country Club in Johor Bahru later this month.

With the Fijian, Vijay Singh, the world No 3, having withdrawn from the championship because of an arm injury, the confirmation of Goosen's participation has brought the smiles back to the organizers of the tournament.

"We are indeed happy to be able to confirm Goosen's participation. Having missed out on Vijay because of his injury, we’re very proud to attract another big name for the championship," said IJO organizing committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

The 39-year old Goosen, who won the much sought after US Open in 2001 and then 2004, will join a stellar list of big names from the Asian Tour for the championship.

Goosen who has a total career winning of US$19.7 million on the PGA Tour since he turned professional in 1990, is no stranger to Malaysia.

In fact he was in Kuala Lumpur for the 2003 Malaysian Open at the Mines Country Resort where he finished joint second behind the winner, Arjun Atwal of India.

"I am looking forward to the trip to Johor Bahru. It will be a new experience for me and a challenging one because of the humidity,” he said in a statement issued today.

He said he was looking forward to playing to playing in Johor and returning to the Asian Tour. “It hasn’t been a good year for me. I have not managed to get a win yet. But I hope my fortunes will change in Johor.”
Goosen's sojourn into Asia has earned him some rewards too, like the Qatar Masters title in January 2007 and the Tiger Skins Game in Singapore in 2003.

With six PGA Tour wins, including the two US Open title and 14 European Tour wins, Goosen is considered one of the best golfers of his generation.

"Goosen's presence at the IJO will add a touch of class. He is a big name in golf and hopefully the fans and players alike will benefit from his participation here," added Ghani, who is also Johor Menteri Besar (Chief Minister).

The IJO which will be held from Oct 30 to Nov 2 at the RJCC, is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Malaysian Golf Association, and supported by the Johor Government and Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and Nusajaya.

Since the inaugural IJO last year, the prize money for the tournament has been raised to UD$500,000 (RM1.7 million) this year, making it one of the biggest golf tournament in Malaysia in terms of the purse.

The championship has attracted 156 players from 25 countries, including the US, England, Japan, China, South Korea, India, Thailand and Singapore.

Among the top foreign players joining the fray will be Thailand’s top player, Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wirachant, South Korean teen sensation, Noh Seung-Yul, whose recent spectacular wins include the Midea China Classic in Guangzhou.

Some 20 Malaysians pros will be among the starting field, namely Ben Leong, Danny Chia, Iain Steel and Airil Rizman Zahary.

Admission to the IJO is free. The official website is: www.iskandarjohoropen.com 





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