The Johnnie Walker Cambodia Open golf tournament got underway Thursday, after a tee off from Prime Minister Hun Sen in what he called a "historic event."
The 150-player, $300,000 Asian Tour tournament is being held in Siem Reap, near Angkor Wat.
"On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Cambodian people, I would like to express my warmest welcome to all 150 professionals from 25 countries, and Phokheetra Country Club, which has organized this historic event," Hun Sen said.
"Our organizing of the event is to show our pride, honor and ability, as, for one, golf is quite a new sport in Cambodia, and, second, we don't have professional athletes," said Nim Sowath, an amateur golfer.