Cambodia’s first professional golf tournament has received a huge boost following a title sponsorship agreement with Johnnie Walker, officials announced today.

The inaugural US$300,000 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open will be played at the spectacular Phokeethra Country Club, which is also a main tournament sponsor. The event, slated from November 29 to December 2, is destined to feature prominently on the Asian Tour Schedule.

The Cambodian government is throwing its weight behind the country’s first venture in golf, heralding the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open as the dawn of a new era, and it aims to firmly place Cambodia on the international golfing map and ultimately create a breed of champions.

As it is the penultimate event on the 2007 Asian Tour Schedule, all eyes will be on the region’s best players battling for the coveted UBS Order of Merit trophy.

The Asian Tour, which is the official regional sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, has also pledged to support the development of golf in Cambodia by being actively involved with plans to launch a golf development programme.

Johnnie Walker’s Sam Fischer, general manager for Indochina, said: “We are very honored to have this opportunity to work with the Phokeethra Country Club and Asian Tour on the Cambodian Open, and we look forward to watching some truly inspirational golf in Cambodia in November.

“Most of all, the tournament is a platform to promote the philosophy that lies at the heart of the Johnnie Walker brand: Keep Walking. This philosophy is about inspiring people to take the next step on their journey towards their goals. Professional Golfers are inspiring examples of this message as they have overcome challenges to excel at the highest level of the sport. We hope that the tournament inspires others to follow their own dreams.â€