Definition
The Thailand Masters is the name applied to several professional sporting tournaments held in Thailand, most prominently a former ranking event in professional snooker and a current professional golf tournament on the Asian Tour.
Overview
Snooker: The Thailand Masters was a professional snooker ranking tournament staged in Thailand during the mid‑1990s. It formed part of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) calendar and attracted leading international players. The event was discontinued after a brief run.
Golf: The Thailand Masters is a men’s professional golf tournament that has been part of the Asian Tour since its inauguration in 2015. It is played over 72 holes of stroke play and has been hosted at venues such as the Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok. The tournament contributes to the Asian Tour Order of Merit and offers Official World Golf Ranking points.
Etymology / Origin
The title combines the country name “Thailand” with the term “Masters,” which in sporting contexts denotes a high‑status, often invitation‑only or elite, competition. The use of “Masters” signals a tournament intended to feature top‑ranked participants within the respective sport.
Characteristics
| Characteristic | Snooker Thailand Masters | Golf Thailand Masters |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | Snooker | Golf |
| Governing body | World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) | Asian Tour (sanctioned by the International Federation of PGA Tours) |
| Inaugural year | 1995 (first edition) | 2015 |
| Format | Ranking event, knockout matches, best‑of‑9 frames in early rounds, longer matches in later stages | 72‑hole stroke‑play over four days |
| Typical venue | Indoor sports arena in Bangkok or nearby city | Golf course, most recently Amata Spring Country Club, Bangkok |
| Status | Defunct (last held early 2000s) | Active (as of 2024) |
| Prize fund* | Not publicly documented in detail; modest compared with major ranking events | Variable; the 2023 edition offered a purse of approximately US $300,000 (exact figure subject to annual sponsor agreements) |
*Prize‑fund details for the snooker edition are not comprehensively recorded in publicly available sources.
Related Topics
- Professional Snooker Ranking Events – a series of tournaments that determine world rankings for snooker players.
- Asian Tour (Golf) – the principal men’s professional golf tour in Asia, which schedules the Thailand Masters among other events.
- Masters (sport) – a generic designation used for prestigious tournaments across various sports, e.g., The Masters (golf), World Masters (darts).
- Sports in Thailand – overview of organized sport in Thailand, including the development of international competitions.
Note: While the term “Thailand Masters” is recognized in the contexts described above, detailed historical records for the snooker tournament are limited, and some specifics (e.g., exact prize amounts) may vary by year and sponsor.