A Thai business man happily agreed to pay one million Thai Baht (Euro 24,500) for a Masters flag signed by South African Charl Schwartzel reports Bernie McGuire in Bangkok.
The money from the Augusta National replica flag was raised at a gala fun-raisinig dinner and with all monies from this week’s Thailand Golf Championship in Bangkok to go to flood victims.
The stars of this week's Thailand Golf Championship. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
As well, a Darren Clarke Open Championship signed flag from Royal St. George’s went for 300,000 Baht (Euro 7,400) and with Clarke then pledging the same amount from his Foundation to match the figure.
The last event on this year’s Asian Tour has attracted a host of other overseas players including Lee Westwood, Ryo Ishikawa, Simon Dyson, Johan Edfors, Gregory Bourdy and even the likes of European Tour regulars Damien McGrane, Miles Tunnicliffe and Stephen Dodd.
Also present and competing in Ireland for a first occasion is American Jason Duffner who lost in a play off earlier this year for the PGA Championship in Atlanta.
Daly entertained guests at the dinner with his signing and drew wide applause as he seeks to end his year on a positive note after the negativity that surrounded his appearance in last month’s Australian Open in Sydney.
And Daly, who has taken out European Tour membership for 2012, is delighted with the success European golfers have enjoyed this past year.
“Golf is a world sport now and it’s just great what the Europeans have done this season headed by Luke who’s now number one on both sides of the Atlantic,” said Daly.
“The Europeans are going up against the Americans more and more and it has given golf a little bit more focus.
“So many people want to play golf now and I honestly think in five or 10 years, the game is going to be bigger than what we have now.
“We have a first class event like this week in Thailand that shows how much golf is getting bigger in Asia.
“But next year will be the third year I’ll be joining the European Tour.
“So my schedule is going to be centred more around the European Tour instead of the PGA Tour.
“I won’t get into than many PGA Tour events so that’s why I will play more in Europe, and besides in order for me to feel confident with my game it’s all about playing regularly and Europe will offer me that.”
