Nearly 11 months after returning to the golfing scene, doubts surround the future of the Malaysian Open following its omission from the Asian Tour’s 2025 schedule.
The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) is still awaiting payment for the 2024 tournament from the title sponsor, IRS Prima, which had signed a three-year deal with the national body.
MGA officials are tight-lipped but acknowledged they are concerned about the tournament’s future.
The Malaysian Open is one of the oldest National Opens in Asia, but its prestige has plummeted since the mid-2000s, and it failed to attract sponsors between 2016 and 2019.
It returned in 2020 as the Bandar Malaysia Open at the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club from March 5-7. There were no tournaments from 2021-2023 due to Covid-19 and difficulties in finding a sponsor.
“We thought we hit the jackpot when IRS Prima signed a three-year deal, but it has since soured,” said an MGA official, who requested anonymity.
“We are still waiting for payment. They keep telling us the money is on the way, but it has been nearly a year. I understand it may take some time for funds to come in, but this delay is too long.”
In March, MGA said IRS Prima had promised to settle all payments by April, but a month later, professional golfer Ervin Chang confirmed he had yet to receive his cheque of US$3,960 for finishing tied 16th.
Chang confirmed yesterday that the Asian Tour had used its own funds to pay the golfers their winnings.
On April 9, 2024, a spokesman for IRS Prima told Twentytwo13 that the company was working on releasing the payment by the middle of April.
When contacted yesterday, a spokesman for Fairway Inspire Sdn Bhd, the promoter of the Malaysian Open, said: “We are still waiting for the funds. I will let you know when we receive the money.”
