KARACHI, Dec 28: The Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) has exempted top 10 players from appearing in the qualifying rounds for selection of 15 golfers for the upcoming US$300,000 Asian Tour Pakistan Open Golf Tournament which tees off at the Karachi Golf Club from Jan 18.

The two-day 36-hole qualifiers will be held at Arabian Sea Country Club (ASCC) from Jan 12.

Those who were exempted are Muhammad Munir, Muhammad Shabbir, Muhammad Siddique, Imdad Hussain, Ansar Mahmood, Matloob Ahmed, Irfan Mehmood, Abbas Ali, Sajjad Khan and Shahid Javed Khan.

In addition, defending champion, Chris Rodgers, Taimur Hussain who is currently playing in Japan, have also been exempted from qualifiers.

“The PGF was expecting around 100 foreigners — top 60 of the Asian ranking who are exempted and the rest coming from the different categories,” secretary PGF, Taimur Hassan, told Dawn on Thursday.

He disclosed the status of the tournament has been elevated with the increase of prize money from $200,000 to $300,000. To be played over 72-holes, the event was revived after a lapse of nine years in January.

The PGF official said winners of seven Asian Tour events have confirmed their participation as the entry closes on Thursday.

Commenting on the course he said it was in good shape and hoped the golfers would enjoy playing.

He said the PGF president, Lt. Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, will be arriving from Islamabad to chair a meeting of the organizing committee at the venue on Friday.

“Pakistan No 1 Muhammad Munir fared well in seven Asian Tour events in which he had featured during the year and got richer by approximately $20,000,” said Taimur when asked what impact has the event developed.

In addition, two other golfers Muhammad Shabbir Iqbal and Shahid Javed also appeared in Asian Tour during the year.

Munir’s best performance however, came at home when he finished fourth in Pakistan Open.

Continuing, he said, besides enhancement of prize money in the local tournaments, scoring standard has been vastly improved. This is evident from the fact that 13 Pakistanis were among top 65 after the cut in the last Asian Tour Pakistan Open which has never happened before.