Large foreign ensemble for Royal Cup – but no Jazz
A total of 156 players have been confirmed as starters for the Royal Cup which will be held from July 26-29 at the Phoenix Gold Golf & Country Club, Chon Buri province with a total prize money of US$500,000.
The field will consist of 75 Asian Tour players, 40 Thais, 10 from the PGA of Australasia, 5 from the Japan Golf Tour, 16 special invitations and 10 players from the qualifying tournament, which will be held on Monday, July 23.
The Royal Cup is the third and final tour event being played in the Kingdom this year, following the Thailand Open in Cha Choeng Sao in June and the Queen’s Cup at the same par-72 course in Pattaya three weeks ago.
Local contenders include Panuphol Pittayarat, who will be seeking his second home title after winning the Thailand Open by one stroke over countryman Poom Saksaensin.
Law graduate Natipong Srithong is another Thai who will be vying for the trophy in honour of HM King Vajralongkorn whose 66th birthday falls on July 28. Natipong has been in remarkable form recently, posting five top-10 finishes in his last seven tournaments.
One man missing, however, is Jazz Janwattananond who claimed his second tour title at the same course in the Queen’s Cup last month. He needs to rest after being one of three Thais playing in the Open in Scotland, starting tomorrow.
Prarat Suwannamaytakorn Director of Professional Sports Promotion and Development Division said: “SAT and NSDF offers our support to all kind of sport development, and golf is one of that. Royal Cup 2018 is also in our support plan and aim to improve the organizing of golf tournament in Thailand and to create an international stage for Thai players to develop their game, including making Thailand as the sport hub of Asia.”
Live TV coverage will be on True Sport HD 3 (True Visions) from 1pm-4pm on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29.
Gates open at 8am each day and B100 tickets for each day can be bought at a ticket booth near the public entrance. Admission is free for those aged under 18 and over 60 years old.
