The 2013 Thailand Open will be jointly sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour and OneAsia, officials said yesterday.
The annual US$1 million tournament has been part of OneAsia since 2010 and will be an event sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) for the first time next year.
"The Thailand Open will be more competitive," said Rangrid Luxitanonda, president of the Thailand Golf Association (TGA).
"Our golfers will have a good opportunity to hone their skills against players from the Japan Golf Tour."
Rangsrid said that the JGTO had promised to bring its big names to the Thailand Open including triple Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland.
The 2013 Thailand Open, which will take place from March 14-17, will be the OneAsia's season-opening event. However, it will not be held at Nakhon Pathom's Suwan Golf Club which hosted the tournament in the past two years.
It is likely to be held at Thana City and Sport Club, said Rangsrid.
In another development, Ariya Jutanugarn will take part in the Ladies European Tour's final qualifying round in Morocco which tees off today.
The 17-year-old Thai, who will play as a professional for the first time, will compete against 140 players in the 90-hole contest.
The cut will be made after 72 holes with the top-60 players and ties will be eligible for the final round. After the final round, the top 30 and ties will get LET cards as full members.