TIGER WOODS TO PLAY IN 2000 JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC IN BANGKOK

The world’s number one golfer, Tiger Woods, is to return to Bangkok for the 10th Johnnie Walker Classic, one of Asia's biggest golf events, to be held from November 16-19, 2000, at the scenic Alpine Golf and Sports Club.

Tiger will be attempting to regain the Johnnie Walker trophy from New Zealander Michael Campbell who won last year’s Johnnie Walker Classic in Taiwan.

Organised by United Distillers and Vintners (Asia Pacific) with support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic features a total prize money of 800,000 (about 48 million baht).

The event will feature a starting field of 156 players from the European, Australasian, and Asian Tours plus leading players from China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

The first round of the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic will tee off on Thursday, November 16. It will be preceded by the Opening Ceremony and the Johnnie Walker Pro-VIP event on Tuesday, November 14, and the Johnnie Walker Amateur Championship Pro-Am on Wednesday, November 15.

This is the fourth time for Thailand to host the Johnnie Walker Classic. The event rotates among various cities in the region every year.

This time the event will receive live TV coverage worldwide on all four days of the championship, giving a major boost to Thailand's golfing and tourism facilities.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Pradech Phayakvichien commented, “We are always happy to see Tiger coming back to Thailand. Such major international golf events help promote the country’s outstanding golf facilities worldwide.”

“This event is in line with our strategy to develop more niche-market travel to Thailand and highlight the Kingdom’s burgeoning potential for golf holidays.”

Beautiful natural landscape and a wide choice of attractions have made Thailand a natural venue for golf lovers. Golf in Thailand is a growing attraction for not only professional and amateur golfers, but also tourists, who are increasingly discovering the country’s , designed by some of the world’s top golfing personalities including Jack Niclaus, Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones.

Designed by the well-known American architect, Ronald M Garl, the 7,007 yard, Par 72 championship Alpine Golf Course covers 770 rai (about 308 acres). It was also the venue for the 13th Asian Games in 1998.

TAT is projecting that more than 350,000 golfers will visit Thailand in 2000.