The Asian Tour today unveiled a new flagship event, the Ho Tram Players Championship, which will take place 13 – 16 April 2017 at The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip (6,855 yards, Par 71; design: Greg Norman) . The US $1.2 million showpiece will become the richest prize purse for a full-field Asian Tour event and also receive an increase in world ranking points given its increased ‘flagship’ status.
This will not be the first time when The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip is the host of an Asian Tour championship. I think you also remember the inaugural Ho Tram Open from last December (3-6th December; US $1.5 million = prize) with Sergio Garcia triumphed on the course. The event was ultimately recognized as The Asian Tour’s 2015 Event of the Year.
The Ho Tram Players Championship will be broadcast around the world in over 180 countries, reaching over 740 million households, making it one of the most watched sporting events in Vietnam’s history.
“The Players’ Championship will be the highlight of the Asian Tour year and we could not think of a more deserving venue and event than Ho Tram,” commented Kyi Hla Han, Commissioner Asian Tour.
This is not the first recognition of The Bluffs Ho Tram Strip (founded in 2014):
- Won the World’s Best New Golf Course 2015 at the World Golf Awards;
- Recently ranked #74 in Golf Digest’s Top 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
What can add more value and importance to this Asian Tour event is the strategic alliance/cooperation between the European and the Asian Tour. The European Tour CEO Keith Pelley spoke positively in last month about the chances of such alliance that can come into effect in 2017.
