Four Filipinos, Masters champ vie in Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines - Four Filipinos get the chance to play alongside newly crowned Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and a slew of world-ranked players, including No. 1 Martin Kaymer, British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Asia’s leading player Thongchai Jaidee, as they vie in the rich Malaysian Open firing off today at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Malaysia.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is also in the fold, out to erase the stigma of his final round foldup in Augusta, along with defending champion Noh Seung-yui of Korea, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, a two-time Asian Tour No. 1, and rising Thai star Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Juvic Pagunsan kicks off the Filipinos’ bid against Gavin Flint and Joost Luiten at 9:10 a.m. while Angelo Que is grouped with Peter Karmis and Pablo Marting in the 12:40 p.m. flight on No. 1.

Tony Lascuña drew a late tee-off time at 2:40 p.m. in the company of Kunai Bhasin and Joakim Haeggman on No. 1 while Mars Pucay joins Brett Rumford and Pablo Larrazabal in the 2 p.m. flight on No. 10.

Kaymer, the first world No.1 to play in the $2.5 million event, is in a star-studded group of McIlroy and Jaidee teeing off at 1 p.m. on No. 1 while Schwartzel drew Oosthuizen and Noh in the featured flight at 8:10 a.m. on the first tee.