The Thailand Open golf tournament has been moved from Pattaya to Phuket to aid tourism to recover in Phuket following the tsunami tragedy, and official of the Thailand Golf Association said yesterday.

Tour chief Louis Martin said: We are fully in support of the decision by the Thailand Golf Association to move the Thailand Open from Pattaya to Phuket in support the Phuket hotels and resorts and the Thai people working in the Phuket tourism industry.

Louis Martin further said that the tour organization was also looking at fund raising initiatives for the tsunami victims during the March 3-6 Open Golf tournament at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket.

Kyi Hla Han, the chairman of the board has already proposed fund raising suggestions for during the event which could be through a charity pro-am or an auction where Asian Golf Tour stars could donate their equipment or memorabilia, he said.

The Blue Canyon golf course in Phuket is rated as one of the top golf courses in Asia and has previously hosted several major big events, including the Johnnie Walker Classic in the years 1994 and 1998.

The Thailand Open golf tournament, features prize money of 20,000,000 Baht (US 500,000) and is sponsored by Thai Airways International.