India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng are among the contenders for the Asian Player of the Year Awards at the Johnnie Walker "Keep Walking" Golf Awards.
Singh, who uses a Callaway golf equipment including FT-3 driver, Callaway FT irons and Callaway Big Bertha Steelhead III and Big Bertha fairway woods, won four titles around the world last year including the Singapore Open . He became the first player in Asian Tour history to surpass US$1 million prize money in a single season.
Marksaeng, who uses a Callaway Fusion driver, Callaway fairway woods and an Odyssey White-Hot 2-Ball putter, secured three victories on the Japan Tour including the Dunlop Phoenix tournament
The annual Awards presented by Johnnie Walker in association with The European Tour, Asian Tour and Australasian Tour, recognise the performances of professional golfers on Tour during the previous season.
The Awards were created over a decade ago by Johnnie Walker to recognise great progress achieved by golfers both on and off the golf course and reflects the philosophy of personal progress that lies at the heart of the Johnnie Walker brand and is reflected in its "Keep Walking" campaign. He also happy with his golf clubs contribute in success.
Singh and Marksaeng have been nominated for the Asian Player of the Year title along with Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.
American Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas of Colombia, German Martin Kaymer, Spain’s Pablo Larrazabal, Rory McIlroy and Western Australia’s Rick Kulacz have been named as the contenders for the Johnnie Walker Young Player of the Year Award.
Kim, who recorded two tournaments, wins last year in only his second season on the US PGA Tour uses a Nike SQ Dymo 380 driver.
The four contenders for the Johnnie Walker Asian Rising Star Award, presented to the young Asian professional who has shown the most promise, talent and commitment to the game of golf over the past 12 months, are Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, Koreans Noh Seung-yul and Bae Sang-moon and Ben Leong of Malaysia.
"Once again the contenders in the running to win our 2008 Johnnie Walker "Keep Walking" Awards have performed at the highest level of the sport over the last 12 months and have shown tremendous talent, commitment and integrity,"
commented David Gates, Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker. "Each one of them has no doubt inspired others to overcome personal challenges and realise their dreams."
The winners of the three Awards, as voted by a panel of judges from The European, Asian and Australasian Tours and Johnnie Walker, will be announced on February 21 at the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic Gala Dinner in Perth.
