Double the Royal celebration for King’s birthday
The Royal Cup, held in honour of King Rama X, is to return to the 2018 Asian Tour schedule from July 26 to 29 at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club, it was confirmed yesterday.
India’s Shiv Kapur, who won for a record third tour title last season, is expected to defend his title against a talented field when he returns to the course which has hosted two events: the Ladies European Thailand Championship and Queen’s Cup.
The 2018 Royal Cup, which offers total prize-money of US$500,000, will be held in conjunction with the 66th birthday of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, which falls on Saturday, July 28.
Man-of-the-moment John Catlin of the United States, who became the first player to win twice on the Asian Tour in 2018 with his victory at the Sarawak Championship last week, will headline a 156-man field alongside countryman and one-time winner Paul Peterson.
A strong Thai contingent, featuring Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Prom Meesawat and Panuphol Pittayarat, will also aim to recapture the prestigious trophy, which marks the Tour’s fourth stop in Thailand this season.
The Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club also hosted the Queen’s Cup, where Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond claimed his second Asian Tour title last month. The tournament was held on the Mountain Course (front nine) and Ocean Course (back nine).
The Asian Tour will return to the same venue for the Royal Cup, with the front nine being played on the Lake course and the back nine being played on the Mountain course. The par-70 set-up measures 6,716 yards in total.
A qualifying tournament offering 10 spots for the Royal Cup will be held at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club on Monday, July 23.
