SHAH ALAM, 9 February 2015–UMW sponsors RM1.77 millionProfessional Golf of Malaysia (PGM), UMW Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (UMW) and MST Golf Management Sdn. Bhd. (MST) are pleased to announce the signing of a Tripartite Agreement for the “PGM-UMW Road to Olympics 2016” program which was held on the 9 February 2015 at the PNB Darby Park Executive Suites. The sponsorship amount of RM1,772,700 by UMW is to be spread throughout the duration of the program.
The PGM-UMW Road to Olympics 2016’s program, the brainchild of the Chairman of PGM, YABhg Tun Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid, is to provide opportunity for Malaysian professional golfers with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points to participate in a support programme geared towards the development and preparation for Malaysian professional golfers to qualify and play in the Olympics 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This comprehensive and holistic program is developed and promoted by PGM, with UMW as the Main Sponsor and MST as the facilitator to manage the development program. Further information on the PGM-UMW Road to Olympics 2016 program is attached.
At the same event, PGM and MST also signed an agreement to collaborate in ensuring the success of the PGM-UMW Road to Olympics 2016 program and the smooth execution of the Tripartite Agreement. This was followed by the signing of Players’ Agreement between PGM, MST and each of the professional golfers who will be participating in the PGM-UMW Road to Olympic 2016 program.
YABhg Tun Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid, the Chairman of PGM, said that the PGM-UMW Road to Olympics 2016 is part of the long-term strategy of PGM to elevate the standard of professional golf in Malaysia. This program will make use of the current tournaments schedule in the PGM Tour Calendar 2015 and 2016, in particular the 12 tournaments jointly sanctioned with the Asian Development Tour (ADT) in the 2015 Calendar.
“These jointly sanctioned tournaments with ADT have been granted OWGR points to the top six tournament winners. With the improved performance of Malaysian professional golfers in the recent PGM tournaments and having home advantage by playing in Malaysia, I believe our Pros should be able to collect enough points to qualify for the 2016 Olympics through the ADT events,” said Tun Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid.
“However, we also need our Pros to be exposed to playing overseas and in bigger tournaments to collect the OWGR points. Hence, we provide the incentives to do so by reimbursing part of their overseas competitions expenses,” added YABhg Tun Ahmad Sarji.
“We are proud to be able to organise about 67% of ADT tournaments in Malaysia this year. This will not only allow the Malaysian public to watch young and upcoming Pros playing, but will also bring in foreign visitors and promote the Malaysian golf industry”, YABhg Tun Ahmad Sarji further said.
On the sponsorship of UMW, YABhg Tun Ahmad Sarji said “UMW has always been a strong supporter of PGM activities since we started our Tour in 2010. We really appreciate the trust and confidence that UMW given to PGM to date. We will ensure that PGM-UMW Road to Olympics 2016 will achieve its target and that we will be very transparent in implementing the program”.
“For the 12 Malaysian Pros invited to be part of this program, I hope they will make full use of this program which has been properly plan so that they will be able to reach their full potential, and are flexible enough without disrupting their own training program. Of course, they should also be honoured to be associated with UMW as the main sponsor of the program”, YABhg Tun Ahmad Sarji added.
YBhg Tan Sri Asmat bin Kamaluddin, the Chairman of UMW, said “We are proud to be invited to be the main sponsor of the PGM-UMW Road to Olympics 2016 program. I have seen the PGM Tour events grew since its inception and personally witnessed the improvement of some of our Pros and what is most heartening is to see the emergence of young Malaysian talents as a result of the PGM Tour tournaments”.
“As a corporate body we believe that UMW has to play a part in promoting sports and support the government’s effort in promoting sports as a unifying factor and also to carry the Malaysian flag overseas. We hope that other corporate bodies would also contribute to other sports as part of elevating the Malaysian sports in general”, added YBhg Tan Sri Asmat.
Mr Paul Gibbons, the director of MST, said “It is an honour for MST to be given the trust by PGM and UMW to carry out this program. We have been involved in assisting PGM in its effort to uplift the standard of Malaysian professional golfers for the last few years through the PGM Peak Performance Golf Academy. Thus, we share the same aspiration and will ensure the success of this program”.
