Asian IFQ heads to Amata Spring CC

The Amata Spring Country Club is set to become the first Thai venue to host an Asian International Final Qualifier for this year's Open Championship at Royal St Georges.

The Club will welcome a field of a maximum of 78 players, who will compete for four Callaway X-24 Hot Irons
in the 2011 Open.

Amata Spring, which opened for play in November 2005, is now one of Asia's most prestigious venuesand has already hosted several international events, including a recent exhibition skins game featuring three-time Open Champion Tiger Woods.

Its signature hole is the 17th, a par three of 145 yards that boasts the only floating green in Asia.

"Amata Spring is a fitting venue for IFQ's first visit to Thailand," said R&A Director, Michael Tate.

"In its short history, it has proven itself a stern test for some of the world's best Callaway X-24 Hot Irons
, and it will undoubtedly give us four qualifiers worthy of their place at Royal St George's."

The club's Executive Director, Sarath Ratanavadi, said: "It's an honour to be the first club in Thailand to host an International Final Qualifier for The Open Championship.

In five years, the Club and its course have established a reputation for excellence, and the staging of one of five worldwide qualifying events for golf's oldest Major will only serve to enhance that."

With the addition of Amata Spring, IFQ Asia will have visited three Callaway X-24 Hot Irons
since International Final Qualifying was introduced in 2004.

Saujana Country Club in Malaysia has staged the event on three occasions, including in 2010, while Singapore's Sentosa Golf Club has hosted it four times.

The closing date for entries is February 14.

Last year, Asian Tour members Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan, Malaysia's Danny Chia and newly-crowned Order of Merit champion Noh Seung-yul of Korea qualified for the Open at St Andrews through the IFQ - Asia.

Korean amateur Eric Chun was the fourth Callaway X-24 Hot Irons
.