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Hole 07
THE JOURNEY
2023 Maybank Championship
Date: October 26-29
Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD3 million
Blazing Boutier
Celine Boutier of France clinched the Maybank Championship title in dramatic fashion securing victory with a birdie on the ninth play-off hole over Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul in Kuala Lumpur. The 29-year-old's triumph included tying the second-longest sudden-death play-off in LPGA history, matching the record set at the 2012 Kingsmill Championship.
Overcoming a one-stroke deficit on the final day, Boutier claimed her first LPGA Tour victory after an intense playoff that spanned the 18th (par 5) and 15th (par 3) holes. Her journey to victory unfolded over four days of exceptional play in the US$3 million tournament, finishing with a 21-under-par 267 total alongside Thitikul. This achievement places her among 2023's standout performers in women's golf.
2019 Maybank Championship
Date: March 21-24
Venue: Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD3 million
HEND’S THE MAN
Australian veteran Scott Hend won the 2019 Maybank Championship in dramatic style in a playoff with Nacho Elvira of Spain at Saujana Golf & Country Club. The 45-year-old Hend prevailed on the first extra hole to claim his third European Tour title and tenth on the Asian Tour.
Starting the last round three shots behind Elvira, Hend nailed five birdies on the front nine to take the lead and was one stroke ahead as they reached the 18th tee. The Spaniard was about to hit his approach when thunder disrupted his backswing and play was suspended at 2.50pm.
When play resumed as 4.30pm, Elvira drained a 30-footer for birdie to force extra time with both players tied on 15-under-par. However, Hend was not to denied as he won on the first playoff hole with a three-foot birdie after twice hitting into the trees and getting lucky breaks.
Top Malaysian honours went to Nicholas Fung in T15 position on eight-under-par 280 (68-73-69-70).
2018 Maybank Championship
Date: February 01-04
Venue: Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD3 million
SHARMA SHINES
Rising Indian star Shubhankar Sharma powered his way to victory in the 2018 Maybank Championship with a spectacular closing round of 10-under-par 62 at Saujana Golf & Country Club.
The 22-year-old talent finished with an impressive 21-under-par total at Saujana’s Palm Course to snare his second joint European Tour and Asian Tour title by two shots over Jorge Campillo of Spain. Shubhankar had won his maiden title at the Joburg Open in South Africa just two months earlier.
Campillo claimed sole second place after signing in a final round 68 for a 19-under-par total, one shot ahead of compatriot Pablo Larrazabal and Australia’s Ryan Fox.
The victory made Sharma only the third player from India to win two European Tour events in the same season, joining the legendary Jeev Milkha Singh and 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open champion Anirban Lahiri.
Maybank’s ASEAN ambassador Gavin Green meanwhile finished as the best Malaysian in 39th spot on nine-under-par 279 (68-69-69-73).
2017 Maybank Championship
Date: February 09-12
Venue: Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD3 million
ON EAGLE’S WINGS
Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti nailed a 15-foot eagle putt on the final hole at Saujana Golf & Country Club’s Palm Course to win the 2017 Maybank Championship.
Starting the final round six shots off the lead, Zanotti birdied the par-four 17th to lead by one. He sealed the victory by reaching the green at the par-five 18th hole in two shots, rolling in the putt to finish with a superb 63 and a 19-under-par 269 total.
American David Lipsky birdied the 17th as well but failed to pick up another shot at the last hole, finishing as runner-up on 18-under-par after a closing 68. Austria's Bernd Wiesberger was third on 17-under-par, one shot ahead of France's Alexander Levy.
Reigning Masters champion Danny Willett had led by three shots going into the final round but a closing 73 dropped the Englishman into joint fifth spot on 15-under-par with China's Li Haotong.
Ben Leong was in excellent form as he claimed best Malaysian honours in joint 12th position on nine-under-par 279.
2016 Maybank Championship
Date: February 18-21
Venue: The Royal Selangor Golf Club
Total Prizemoney: USD3 million
FABULOUS FRASER
Australia’s Marcus Fraser earned bragging rights as the first golfer to hoist the iconic Tiger Trophy by winning the inaugural Maybank Championship Malaysia.
The 37-year-old brandished a superb short game to card a closing 68 for a 15-under-par total at The Royal Selangor Golf Club, winning by two shots from third round leader Soomin Lee of Korea and Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines.
This was Fraser’s third European Tour title and second on the Asian Tour.
Trailing Lee by two shots at the 16th hole tee, Fraser almost holed his chip from off the green while Lee made double bogey to put the players level. The Australian saved par with a clutch 10-foot putt at the par-three 17th and sealed the win with a par on the final hole as Lee made another double-bogey.
Lee’s shaky finish forced him to settle for joint second place with Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines on 13-under-par, one shot head of Spain’s Jorge Campillo and France’s Julien Quesne.
The best-placed Malaysian was Nicholas Fung in joint 24th position on six-under-par 278 (70-71-68-69).
MAYBANK MALAYSIAN OPEN
2015 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: February 05-08
Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD3 million
LAHIRI’S LIFE-CHANGER
Anirban Lahiri became the second Indian of Maybank Malaysian Open with a dramatic victory in the 2015 edition at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country’s West Course.
The 28-year-old played his way into contention with a stunning third round 62, but was still five shots behind Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger going into the final 18 holes.
Following a curling, 40-foot birdie putt at the par-four 17th to sneak ahead by one shot, Lahiri parred the par-five 18th for a final round 68 and the clubhouse lead on 16-under-par. Wiesberger had a chance to force a playoff with a birdie at the last hole but left his putt just short.
The victory, Lahiri’s sixth on the Asian Tour and first on the European Tour, catapulted him into the top 40 of the world rankings which he described as ‘life-changing’.
Amateur Gavin Green showed why he was considered the country’s great golf hope with a T25 finish on four-under-par, sharing best Malaysian honours with veteran pro Danny Chia.
2014 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: April 17-20
Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney:USD2.75 million
WESTWOOD THE WIZARD
English stalwart Lee Westwood romped to a seven-shot victory with a magical performance in the 2014 Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, ending a two-year victory drought with the 40th title of his chequered career.
Starting the final round one shot clear of compatriot Andy Sullivan, Westwood extended his advantage to four shots before lightning forced a four-hour suspension with eight holes to play at the West Course.
Westwood chalked up two more birdies when play resumed, signing in a closing 68 for a total of moved 18-under-par 270. This was the former world number one’s second victory in Malaysia’s national Open, having won it in 1997 before it became a co-sanctioned event by the European Tour and Asian Tour.
Austria’s Bern Wiesberger closed with a 67 to share second place on 11-under-par with South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts. Sullivan meanwhile had a torrid day and tumbled down into joint 13th place after a closing 78.
Nicholas Fung, Khor Kheng Hwai and amateur Gavin Green shared top Malaysian honours in joint 47th place on one-over-par 289.
2013 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: March 21-23
Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD2.75 million
APHIBARNRAT’S EURO BREAK
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat broke through for his first European Tour title by fending off a host of big names to win the 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
One stroke ahead of 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa going into the final round, the burly Thai was also challenged by three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.
Aphibarnrat kept his nerve to eke out a memorable victory in the tournament, which had been shortened to 54 holes due to weather delays. A closing 70 for a 13-under-par total was good enough to claim the win by one shot from Molinari who signed off with a 67.
In the third and final round, Aphibarnrat made birdie from three feet at the par-four 14th to sneak ahead of Molinari before play was suspended again for two hours. After play resumed, Aphibarnrat birdied 16, saved par from 10 feet at 17 and could afford a bogey at the last hole.
18-year-old amateur prodigy Gavin Green upstaged the local professionals to finish as best Malaysian in joint 22nd place on six-under-par.
2012 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: April 12-15
Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney:USD2.5 million
OOSTHUIZEN FLIES HIGH
Sweet-swinging South African Louis Oosthuizen shrugged off a journey of over 30 hours to claim a well-deserved victory at the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Coming off a runner-up finish at the Masters where he lost a playoff to Bubba Watson, Oosthuizen showed little signs of fatigue as he swung his way to victory. The 2010 British Open closed with a 68 for a total of 17-under-par 271, finishing three shots clear of Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher.
Oosthuizen’s feat was even more remarkable given that he had to play 26 holes on Sunday due to weather delays on the previous two days. This was his fifth European Tour title and first on the Asian Tour.
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello, England’s Danny Willett and American David Lipsky tied for third on 12-under-par, one shot clear of another South African Major winner, Charl Schwartzel.
The best Malaysian finisher was Shaaban Hussin in joint 57th place on two-over-par.
2011 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: April 14-17
Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD2.5 million
MANASSERO’S BIRTHDAY CHEER
Italian teenager Matteo Manassero gave himself an early birthday present by winning the 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
Two days ahead of his 18th birthday, Manassero carded a solid final round 68 to finish on 16-under-par and claim his second European Tour title by one shot from France’s Gregory Bourdy. Northern Irish hotshot Rory McIlroy was third on 14-under-par after a closing 69.
Having become the European Tour's youngest ever winner by winning the Castello Masters Costa Azahar in Spain the year before, Manassero was also the second successive teenager to win the Maybank Malaysian Open following Noh Seung-yul in 2010.
The leaders had to play 27 holes to play on the final day due to weather delays earlier in the week and it was Manassero who proved the most resilient, taking the lead with a birdie at the 14th hole and parring his way home for the win.
McIlroy could have forced a playoff with a birdie at the par-five 18th but wound up three-putting to settle for third place behind Bourdy.
The best Malaysian was Danny Chia in joint 41st spot on one-under-par 287.
2010 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: March 07-10
Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD2 million
NOH NAILS IT
Korean Noh Seung-yul set a new record for the youngest professional to win a European Tour event with a dramatic one-shot triumph over veteran compatriot K J Choi in the 2010 Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
At 18 years and 281 days, Noh beat the previous record set by Dale Hayes in 1971 by nine days, although the youngest winner remained New Zealand's Danny Lee who was 18 years and 213 days when he won the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic as an amateur.
Choi had birdied the par-five 18th to set the clubhouse target of 13-under-par, forcing Noh to conjure a stunning pitch from the edge of a practice green behind a marquee tent to set up a four-foot birdie on the final hole. Noh holed the putt for a winning 14-under-par total.
Third round joint leaders Rhys Davies of Wales and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand both missed birdie putts on the last green to settle for join third on 12-under-par with Denmark’s Soren Hansen.
Danny Chia and M. Sasidaran shared best Malaysian honours in joint 60th place on three-over-par.
2009 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: February 12-15
Venue: Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD2 million
KANG ENDS DROUGHT
American Anthony Kang ended a lengthy title drought with a hard-fought victory in the 2009 Maybank Malaysian Open, triumphing by one shot at Saujana Golf & Country Club.
Starting the final round two shots adrift of Australian Adam Blyth, Kang signed off with a round of 67 for a 17-under-par total at Saujana’s much-vaunted Palm Course. Needing a birdie at the par-five 18th, he reached the green in two and two-putted from 70 feet to claim his maiden victory on the European Tour and first Asian Tour title since the 2001 Myanmar Open.
Englishman David Horsey closed with a 64 to tie for second place on 16-under-par with compatriot Miles Tunnicliff, India’s Jyoti Randhawa of India and Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng. Horsey’s superb final round included a back nine of 29 and earned the 23-year-old his best finish on The European Tour to date.
Malaysian number one Danny Chia had the galleries buzzing by taking the halfway lead after rounds of 66 and 65, settling for joint 11th place on 12-under-par 276 with weekend scores of 74 and 71.
2008 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: March 06-09
Venue: Kota Permai Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD2 million
AMAZING ATWAL
India’s Arjun Atwal won the 2008 Maybank Malaysian Open in spectacular style, closing with an eight-under-par 64 and defeating defending champion Peter Hedblom of Sweden in a play-off at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.
Atwal’s superb closing round set the clubhouse target of 18-under-par, which was matched by Hedblom who signed off with a 71 after narrowly missed a birdie on the final hole when his putt stayed on the lip and refused to drop.
The players traded pars on the first extra hole at the par-five 18th, Hedblom doing well to survive after driving into the water and Atwal saving par from the sand. The Indian golfer parred the second play-off hole, the par-three 17th, while Hedblom three-putted to end the gripping contest.
Atwal’s third European Tour win and seventh on the Asian Tour was also his second Malaysian Open victory, following his triumph back in 2003 at The Mines.
Australia’s Kane Webber signed off with a 65 to tie for third place on 17-under-par with England’s Simon Dyson.
The best-placed Malaysian was Iain Steel in joint 33rd place on nine-under-par 279.
2007 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: February 08-11
Venue: Saujana Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD1.29 million
SWEDE SUCCESS
Swedish golfer Peter Hedblom ended an eleven-year title drought by winning the 2007 Maybank Malaysian Open at Saujana Golf & Country Club.
In a heated final day battle at Saujana’s challenging Palm Course, the 37-year-old Swede carded a final round 68 for an eight-under-par total and a one-shot win over France’s Jean-François Lucquin who signed off with a 67.
England’s Simon Dyson and Spanish golfer Ignacio Garrido shared third place a stroke further back.
With his only previous victory coming at the 1996 Moroccan Open, Hedblom was in determined mood as he went onto the weekend seven shots off the lead. A third round 68 moved him into contention, three shots off the pace.
In the final round, Hedblom nailed six birdies against two bogeys, including a three-putt on the final green which in the end didn’t matter.
Airil Rizman, who had earlier in the year claimed his first Asian Tour title at the Pakistan Open, emerged as the best Malaysian in joint 34th place on one-over-par 289.
2006 Maybank Malaysian Open
Date: February 16-18
Venue: West Course, Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: USD1.29 million
WI SPOILS THAI PARTY
Charlie Wi of Korea claimed a one-stroke victory in the 2006 Maybank Malaysian Open, edging Thai legend Thongchai Jaidee by one shot in the event’s first visit to Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC).
The popular Jaidee had been looking for a third successive win in Malaysia’s national Open, having triumphed in the previous two editions at Saujana Golf & Country Club. Wi, however, had other ideas as a stunning final round 63 at KLGCC’s West Course gave him the title with a 19-under-par 197 total over 54 holes in the weather-shortened event.
Wi birdied the final hole to claim his first European Tour title and seventh Asian Tour win, while Jaidee signed off with a round of 66.
Raphael Jacquelin of France shot a tournament best 62 on the last day to finish third on 17-under-par 199, one shot ahead of the English duo of John Bickerton and Mark Foster.
Shaaban Hussein and Danny Chia shared best Malaysian honours on eight-under-par 208.
PGM MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP
2022 PGM Maybank Championship
Date: March 22-24
Venue: Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney:RM120,000
DINO’S DAY
Shahriffuddin Ariffin underlined his status as one of the country’s brightest young talents with an impressive victory in the PGM Maybank Championship at Saujana Golf & Country Club.
Nicknamed ‘Dino’, the 22-year-old from Melaka carded a superb final round 66 at Saujana's Palm Course for a nine-under-par 207 total to claim his third Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour title. Shahriffuddin finished three shots clear of Daeng Abdul Rahman, who closed with a 68 to seal runner-up honours on six-under-par 210.
Shahriffuddin would go on to win his third PGM Tour Order of Merit title, adding to his successes in 2017 and 2018.
Nicholas Fung signed off with a 72 to finish joint third on four-under-par 212 with Galven Green, who ended his campaign round of 69. National player Nateeshvar Ganesh claimed the best men's amateur title in joint ninth place on one-over-par 217.
The concurrent PGM Ladies Championship saw amateur Mirabel Ting claim her first title on the local tour with a total of one-under-par 215, two shots ahead of experienced professional Aretha Pan.
The tournament was a closed event for Malaysians due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
2019 PGM Maybank ADT Championship
Date: November 27-30
Venue: Palm Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney: RM225,000
THAI-PHOON AT SAUJANA
Thailand’s Nirun Sae-ueng won the 2019 PGM Maybank ADT Championship to end a four-year title drought on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), defeating Malaysian number one Gavin Green in a playoff at Saujana Golf & Country Club.
Both players had staged remarkable comebacks in the final round, with Nirun carded a closing 66 and Green a superb 64 at Saujana’s Palm Course to end 72 holes tied on 15-under-par 273.
Nirun forced the playoff when he holed his third shot for a spectacular eagle at the last hole of regulation play. On the first extra hole, also played at the par-five 18th, Nirun edged Green with a par against a bogey.
Third round leader Atiruj Winaicharoenchai of Thailand signed off with a 74 to finish third on 275, one shot ahead of Malaysia’s Amir Nazrin.
The PGM Ladies Championship saw Genevieve Ling picked up her fourth professional title and third in a row at Saujana with an eight-over-par 296 total, five shots ahead of Michelle Koh.
2018 PGM Maybank Championship
Date: November 28-30
Venue: Bunga Raya Course, Saujana Golf & Country Club
Total Prizemoney:RM225,000
MIZUNO’S TRIPLE TREAT
It was a triple bonus for Japan’s Shinichi Mizuno as he won the 2018 PGM Maybank Championship, the season-ending event of the Asian Development Tour (ADT), which was shortened to 54 holes due to weather delays at Saujana Golf and Country Club.
Mizuno emerged victorious with a three-round total of eight-under 208, which earned him a cheque for RM39,375 along with an invitation to play in the USD3 million Maybank Championship in February 2019. The 24-year-old also gained full playing status on the Asian Tour by finishing seventh on the final ADT Order of Merit standings.
Sweden’s Oscar Zetterwall and Nitithorn Thippong of Thailand tied for second on seven-under-par 209, while. Kenneth De Silva was the best Malaysian in tied eighth spot with a two-under-par 214 total.
Argentina’s Miguel Carballo finished seventh to claim the ADT Order of Merit title, crowning an impressive season which saw him win his first ADT title in the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Indonesia in August and rake up eight other top-10 finishes.
