Basundhara Bangladesh Open kicks off today

All preparations have been completed to host the first-ever Asian Tour event in Bangladesh, the 300,000 US Dollars "Basundhara Bangladesh Open 2015" Golf tournament, beginning today (Wednesday) at the Kurmitola Golf Course in the capital, reports UNB.
Kurmitola Golf Club is fully prepared to embrace national and international players and officials participating in the Basundhara Bangladesh Open 2015 and most of the golfers are already in the capital.
In all, 156 leading golfers from 24 countries of the world, including a record 31 players from hosts Bangladesh including country's premier golfer Siddikur Rahman, will compete in the four-round 72-hole tournament, sponsored by local leading business house Basundhara Group.
At least 10 former Asian Tour winners and 127 top golfers from all over the world will compete at the international standard 6500-yard golf course in the tournament, one of the five new Asian Tour events of this year and the 2nd Asian Tour in South Asia after India.
Asian Tour, the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia based in Singapore, will organise the international golf tournament in Bangladesh in conjunction with the Bangladesh Golf Federation.
A three -year agreement has been signed earlier between the Bangladesh Golf Federation (BGF) and the Asian Tour, and similarly another three -year agreement has also been signed between the BGF and the title sponsor Basundhara Group.
Bangladesh previously staged domestic and regional golf tournaments including with Professional Golf of India (PGTI) Tour and hosted an Asian Development Tour (ADT) tournament in 2011.
Two-time Asian Tour event winner Siddikur Rahman, whose performances were not up to the mark in the last few tournaments, think the Basundhara Bangladesh Open (BBO) is an opportunity for him to come back and he believes this is his golden ticket to a third Asian Tour title.
The 30-year-old Siddikur Rahman, ranked 32nd in Asia, hopes to shine at his home course at the Kurmitola Golf Club and win the prestigious trophy which is designed in the form of Bangladesh's national animal, the Royal Bengal Tiger.
"If I can play my own game here, I think I can win this tournament.  This is definitely a golden opportunity for me to win and prove that Bangladeshi golfers are good," said a confident Siddikur.
"I'm physically fit and I really look forward to a good week. I didn't prepare any differently this week because I feel very comfortable here. I think the fans and golfers will really enjoy the week," he added.
"I'm very excited that this week has finally arrived. I'm feeling great because this is my home course. I don't feel pressure because I've won many tournaments here," said Siddukur.
Siddikur, who worked as a ball boy at Kurmitola Golf Club before turning pro, will headline the US$300,000 Asian Tour event alongside Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, Singaporean Mardan Mamat and India's Rashid Khan.
The winner will receive approximately 18 per cent of total prize money and 64 other players who make the cut after two rounds will also get prize money in sliding scale.
Apart from 31 players from hosts Bangladesh, 30 golfers from Thailand, 26 golfers from neighbouring India and 10 from Australia will compete in the country's first-ever heavyweight golf event.
The tournament committee also announced the daily ticket rates which will be available at Tk 300 for members and Tk 500 for non-member spectators.