KARACHI, Feb 12: The Rs1.5million Nike-Standard Chartered 34th Open Golf Championship of Pakistan will tee off at the Arabian Sea Country Club from Thursday, organizers announced Tuesday.

Taimur Hussain will defend the title that carries a cheque of Rs123,619 for the winner. The runners-up will pocket Rs84,075 while the golfer finishing third will take away Rs49,448. The golfer finishing 30th is guaranteed Rs10,959.

The top 15 professional golfers, including top ranked Shabbir Iqbal, Mahboob Ahmad, Mohammad Tariq Raz, Abbas Ali, Imdad Hussain, Mohammad Munir, Mohammad Akram, Mohammad Tahir, Mohammad Sajid, Mohammad Irfan, Ghulam Nabi, Mehmood Kiani, Javed Inayat and Waheed Baloch have confirmed participation.

The top golfers have been exempted from the 18-hole qualification round that will be played Wednesday. The top 55 will take the course along with the 15 on Thursday morning at 8.00am.

After 18 holes, top 50 golfers will return for the next 18 holes while top 40 will appear on the third day. The last 18 holes will be played by 30 golfers.

In the amateurs, 60 golfers with 10 handicap or below, will participate. National champion Shabir Javed Khan will defend the title. The winners will take home Rs40,000.

For the first time, the organizers have included senior professionals event with a top prize of Rs16,000.

Wg Cdr Iftikhar Ahmad Khan, secretary of the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) said foreign golfers had not been invited since the other countries had not invited Pakistan golfers.

“It has to be on reciprocal basis. Last time Sri Lankan golfers were invited but the PGA didn’t bear their expenses. It was the DHA (Defence Housing Authority Club) that looked after the travelling, lodging and boarding,” he said.