Malaysia ready to make a mark

In a plush hotel here in Auckland on Saturday evening, Dato' Seri Sabbaruddin Chik, Malaysia's Minister of Tourism and Arts, will play host to a rather swish gathering. And by that stage, the country's current golfing heroes expect to be among the top-10 challengers for the World Cup.

This is a particularly important week for the Malaysians, insofar as they will be staging the World Cup next November. And typical of developments in the tournament scene in recent years, is the fact that it will not be at the 101-year-old Royal Selangor club, but at the luxurious Mines Resort, which is certainly among the most expensive, if not the most exclusive clubs in the world.

When I met 30-year-old Mohd Ali Kadir yesterday, he was having some refreshments with his wife Helimah. Soon they were joined by his playing partner Periasamy Gunasagaran and the talkative Wong Hong Nung, who identified himself as the professional at the Mines Resort.

"I'm with them this week to look after their interests - like a manager," he explained. "They are very good players and we think we can finish in the top-10 on Sunday. That would be a very good way for us to set the stage for next year."

Both players talked about the great pride they take in representing their country; the sort of pride that has prompted them to wear the national flag on their visors. It is also the sort of attitude around which this tournament was conceived, back in 1953.

"We are heroes to all the golfers in our country," said Kadir with a flashing smile. "And maybe we will be bigger heroes when they see us on television this weekend." Helimah nodded approvingly.

Meanwhile, Gunasagaran recalled his involvement in the country's greatest golfing achievement. It happened in Puerto Rico four years ago when himself and Marimuthu Ramayah had the effrontery to be tied second at the halfway stage behind the rampant Americans, Fred Couples and Davis Love.

That was when Ramayah sent shock-waves through the other competing nations by shooting rounds of 66 and 64 to be only two strokes behind Couples. The Malaysians eventually shared ninth place, nine strokes clear of Ireland's pairing of Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.

Where is the likeable veteran, Ramayah, now? "Unfortunately he did not qualify for this year's team," explained Nung. Which suggests that Kadir, who shot 283 at Kiawah Island last year, is clearly a useful replacement.

As competitors on the Asian Tour, the pair can look to relatively modest earnings of about £70,000 this year. But they have their sights on greener pastures. "Vijay Singh has opened many doors for players like us, by the way he left Malaysia to have huge success all over the world," said Kadir.

He went on: "Though he is from Fiji, of course, he comes back for holidays in Kuala Lumpur and I have practised with him. He has inspired us all, especially with his great win in the USPGA Championship this year."

The omniscient Nung informed me that there are about 100,000 golfers in Malaysia and that 15 of the country's leading courses are within 20 minutes of Kuala Lumpur. "Our people can play for a green-fee of about £5 in your money," he said.

Though golf has been played in Malaysia for more than a century, the country didn't venture onto the international stage until the World Cup was played in Singapore in 1969. On that occasion, two amateurs finished a creditable 29th out of 45 competing nations.

It was a beginning that is now leading to remarkable things - as their minister for arts and tourism will, no doubt, inform us on Saturday night.