Siem Reap’s Phokeethra Country Club will play host today to the first round of the 2014 Liberty Cup golf tournament involving 88 golfers from seven countries before the final round shifts to the Angkor Golf Resort tomorrow.

The field includes last year’s winner Alex Yap of Malaysia.

Golfers from Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom are taking part in this annual event jointly organised by Malaysia’s Liberty Golf Services and Cambodia’s PSD Travel.

For the first time a women’s event has been introduced with nine players in the fray.

“We’ve got a pretty strong field this year and it will be exciting to see how Alex Yap defends his title in the next two days,” Liberty Golf Services general manager Eu Shen Ng told the Post.

“Obviously the Liberty Cup series has grown in awareness by doubling last year’s turnout and we’re also pleased to see many faces from last year. The Siem Reap leg has always been an amazing destination for Malaysian golfers,” he added.

PSD Travel general director Candra Tanpatti noted the involvement of local charity organisation BFT in the tournament, providing “a platform for a charity drive.”

“There is a huge potential to exercise responsible tourism via a great international golf event,” he added.

The event has been jointly sponsored by Transview Golf, Titoni, Carlsberg, RHB Bank, Angkor Golf Resort, Phokeethra Country Club, Casillero del Diablo and Vittel.