The Straits Times / The Business Times News on OSIM

OSIM looks set to pull out of Masters

Next month's $1.5m event at Laguna will see two new sponsors

NEXT month's Singapore Masters golf tournament is likely to see a new title sponsor. Last year's title sponsor - OSIM International - seems set not to continue.

Yesterday, Alan Tan, OSIM's head of branding and marketing, said the massage chair maker was unlikely to renew its partnership with the Masters. "It looks like it is not going to happen," he said.

He declined comment when asked why.

OSIM, which replaced Caltex as the Masters' title sponsor last year, has reportedly said that its sponsorship is 'a long-term contract with a yearly evaluation'.

Masters event promoter Parallel Media Asia's managing director Keld Kristiansen declined comment when asked about OSIM's future as title sponsor.

He said: "I can't comment, as we are about to announce a long-term plan for the event involving new clients."

Asked if this will involve a new title sponsor, he said: 'Potentially so.'

The future of the Masters had seemed unclear early last year, after former title sponsor Caltex ended its five-year association in July 2005.

OSIM was unveiled as the title sponsor of last year's edition less than a month before the tournament.

Kristiansen revealed that this year's edition will see two new sponsors - Swiss private bank Clariden and Swiss luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet.

The tournament will be held at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club from March 8-11.

It will be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour.

Players such as Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke and England's David Howell and Lee Westwood have already confirmed their entries.

Since its inception in 2001, stars who have competed in the Masters include world No 7 Vijay Singh, US Open winner Ernie Els and former European No 1 Colin Montgomerie.

Singapore's top pro Mardan Mamat clinched last year's title, becoming the first local to triumph on the European Tour.

The US$1 million (S$1.53 million) Masters is the second-richest prize purse here this year, after the US$4 million Barclays Singapore Open.