Pakistan will host the richest Asian Tour golf event ever in Dec
The CNS-Pakistan Golf Championship, one of the most significant sporting events in the country’s history, will be held here at the famous Karachi Golf Club (KGC) in Dec as an Asian Tour tournament, with prize money of US$500,000.
On Friday, a top KGC official revealed to the media that the CNS-Pakistan Open has been added to the Asian Tour’s itinerary and will start happening from December 1-4.
The CNS-Pakistan Open will be the country’s first comeback to the Asian Tour since the US$300,000 UMA-CNS Open at the KGC in 2018.
Pakistan will return to the Asian Tour for the 1st time in four years, with the largest prize pool in the country’s history. The prize money would be close to Rs100 million at the current exchange rate, making it the most profitable sporting event in Pakistan’s history.
“It’s fantastic news that the CNS-Pakistan will be contested at KGC in Dec. with a prize fund of 500,000 $,” stated KGC Chief Operating Officer Commodore Ghazanfar Abbas.
Given the increased prize money, it is predicted that Asia’s best pros would compete in the CNS-Pakistan Championship.
Commodore Ghazanfar stated that attempts were undertaken to reintroduce Pakistan to the Asian Tour on the orders of Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi.
Admiral Niazi, a golf enthusiast, revealed at last year’s CNS Open prize presentation ceremony that the CNS Open would-be member of the Asian Tour in 2022.
The CNS-Pakistan Open, which is scheduled to take place from Nov 28 to December 4, will be a part of a week-long golf event that will also involve a Pro-Am event preceding the main competition.
Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand won the Asian Tour championship at KGC in 2018.
The four-day UMA-CNS Open competition featured professionals from 18 countries, including at least five past Asian Tour winners. Players came from Argentina, India, the United States, Venezuela, Australia, England, Serbia, Austria, South Africa, Singapore, and Spain.
Pakistan was admitted to the former Asian circuit in 1989. The competition was held at KGC, where Filipino talent Frankie Minoza won the championship.
Prior to 2018, Pakistan held consecutive Asian Tour tournaments at KGC in 2006 & 2007. Chris Rodgers of England won the 2006 festival ahead of India’s Jeev Milkha Singh & Amandeep Johl. Malaysia’s Airil Rizman won his first Asian Tour trophy in 2007 with a two-stroke victory against Australia’s Scott Hend.
Pakistan has only generated one Asian Tour champion in the past, Taimur Hussain, who won the 1998 Myanmar Open. Muhammad Munir of Islamabad got close in 2018, although had to settle for 3rd spot back to 2 Thai competitors.
