Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Two-time Olympian and LPGA Tour member Kelly Tan has been named as Maybank’s ASEAN ambassador.
The appointment of Tan will see the Malaysian golfer receiving support from the bank in a joint effort towards creating a more diverse, accessible, and inclusive stage for women’s golf in the region.
The sponsorship comes on the back of the announcement of the launch of the Maybank Championship 2023. Sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the tournament will be staged at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club’s West Course from October 26-29.
The two-year sponsorship of Tan will bolster Malaysia’s aspiration to have a top female golfer represented at the highest level of the sport while showcasing the potential of ASEAN talent.
“As a bank that values inclusivity, Maybank is proud to have Kelly as its ASEAN Ambassador. She will act as a catalyst in realising the Group’s vision to help grow the game and provide equitable opportunities for women from all walks of life,” said a spokesperson for Maybank.
Tan, who hails from Johor Bahru, emphasised the need for an eco-system to provide grass-roots support for young players to help them achieve their dreams and foster the sport’s growth.
She said: “I look forward to my role as Maybank’s ASEAN Ambassador. This partnership represents a significant milestone for me as I have long harboured the ambition of supporting and elevating the sport for Malaysians. I firmly believe in the importance of instilling strong values in young players to enable them to reach the pinnacle of success.
“I am thrilled to leverage my experience to advance the growth of golf in Malaysia and the region.”
As well as representing Malaysia at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, Tan has enjoyed some fine performances on the LPGA Tour. She was runner-up in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational last year and won the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in 2019.
As Maybank’s ASEAN Ambassador, Tan will be a prominent representative on the LPGA circuit and a voice for the bank’s initiatives to promote golf throughout Malaysia and the region.
During her off-season, Tan will conduct junior Maybank clinics and mentorship programmes.
The Maybank Championship 2023 marks a significant milestone in the bank’s efforts to create positive change for women’s golf and evolution in its long-standing support of the game.
The US$3 million tournament will feature 68 professional golfers, with 10 additional slots reserved for Malaysian and ASEAN players in this 72-hole no-cut event.
Maybank’s commitment to female golfers and promoting values they believe in is reflected in the tournament’s theme, Retake the Green. The tagline embodies the bank’s belief that women’s golf has the potential to create positive change, on and off the course.