HANOI – Oct. 14, 2004 – Former US Open champion Corey Pavin, nicknamed 'The Bulldog', will add bite to the inaugural Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam at Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club next month.
The slightly-built Pavin, who has amassed 26 international victories including 14 on the PGA Tour, will take up a sponsor's invitation and challenge the Asian Tour's finest players in the $200,000 event from November 4-7.
"It is a great privilege for us to welcome Corey Pavin to Vietnam next month," said South East Asia Brewery’s, General Director Henrik J. Andersen, the company which produces the two well-known Carlsberg and Halida Beer in Vietnam.
"With the addition of a Major champion in the elite field, which will also include some of Asia's top players, I am confident that the inaugural Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam will enjoy a successful start. It will be a fantastic treat for golf fans in Hanoi as Corey is a great champion and a fantastic competitor."
Asia is a happy hunting ground for Pavin as he has won titles in Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei. His last appearance in the region was in the SK Telecom Open in Korea last year where he finished third.
This season, Pavin has played some of his best golf on the PGA Tour in years, winning over $800,000 in prize money. He has posted two top-10s and six other top-25s. Pavin will be remembered fondly for winning the US Open in 1995 when he came from three strokes behind on the final day to beat Australian Greg Norman for the prestigious title.
Such is his fierce competitive nature that he earned the nickname 'The Bulldog'. "It started from Mark O'Meara who made the comment that I was like a little bulldog who won't let go of your pants leg. Then, in the Presidents Cup in 1994, some fans were yelling "bulldog" and it stuck. I do like the nickname. It says a lot about me being competitive and trying hard all the time," said the 44-year-old Pavin.
The Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam will also see the inclusion of four local amateur golfers, Nguyen Thai Duong, Trinh Van Tho, Nguyen Van Thong and Nguyen The Vinh in the fray.
Andersen was also pleased to announce the inclusion of India's rising star Shiv Kapur as a tournament invite. Kapur won the gold medal in the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, two years ago and recently turned professional.
The young Indian made his debut on the Asian Tour in the Tianjin TEDA Open in China in August and played in all four rounds. Last month, he won his first professional event on the Indian golf circuit.
"Shiv is an exciting young prospect and we are pleased to see him being extended a tournament invite to compete in the Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam," said Andersen. "He has already won a title on home soil in his young professional career and I am sure he will take this opportunity and play his best in his bid to become one of the top players on the Asian Tour."
The inaugural Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam will be the 19th leg on the Asian Tour. The $200,000 tournament is title sponsored by Carlsberg, one of the largest brewery groups in the world as well as in Vietnam. The tournament's main sponsors are Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club, Thai Airways as the Official Carrier, Hilton Hanoi Opera as the Official Hotel, GM Daewoo as the Official Car, Canon as the Official Office Suppliers and Pepsi as the Official Drinks. Event partners include I-Golf, French International Hospital, LG, Aquafina, Eurowindows, VinaAusteel and Nippon Paint.
Contact:
Chuah Choo Chiang
Asian Tour
Communications Manager
+603 7880 3714
chuah@asiantour.com
www.asiantour.com
